People who reverse into parking spaces: why???

calling statistical BS wrote:

Luv2Run wrote:

I have seen write ups that it is safer when pulling out. Pull out in forward versus reverse is safer.

At 40-something I have probably backed out of a parking spot over 10,000 times without getting hit. Is that a thing that happens?

At 60 something. many decades ago, I backed into someone who was backing out at the same time. There was no damage or anything. But I almost always back into parking spaces just because then I don't need to back out of them. Get the backing up out of the way early.

I have a Tesla with a high def rear camera. I see everything behind me clearly and there are little lines on the screen to line me up so that I don't park like an @$$hole. Plus having the steered wheels at the back of the moving car makes it more maneuverable, for the same reason you back into a parallel parking spot. As stated before, when I pull out, I can see everything.

It's safer.

There's quite a bit of research out there on it.

It's a pretty popular policy in the construction industry. Just google "first move forward" and you'll see plenty of results of companies talking about the rationale for that policy.

Tonka Truck wrote:

Ehl wrote:

1. For a large vehicle like a big pickup, it’s arguably easier to back in than pull in forward.

This. If you've ever owned or driven a large pickup (which I'm assuming you haven't), it is much easier to back in than to do a weird 3 point turn type maneuver and pull in forward. The same goes with leaving the spot. With long vehicles such as trucks, particularly in small parking lots, you can't just back up, turn, and pull away because of the cars in spaces in back of you. Again, it would require a weird 3 point turn type maneuver. Since the front wheels turn and the rear wheels do not, driving forward out of the spot (as well as backing into it) is made much easier.

I can't speak for small cars. No idea why they do it.

Ha ha! Just yesterday I watched a guy in his overly-sized, lifted, tinted-windows Dodge Ram, 3-point back into a spot. The whole time, two cars sat behind waiting for him to get it just right. There were no cars parked on either side of the space and he could of more easily just pulled in.

very confused wrote:

Please enlighten me. I even see people reversing into spaces when they could just drive forward into the space behind it and pull up.

I assume you don't know how to drive if you need to ask

kanye north wrote:

It's safer.

There's quite a bit of research out there on it.

It's a pretty popular policy in the construction industry. Just google "first move forward" and you'll see plenty of results of companies talking about the rationale for that policy.

+1

All these LRC members haven’t ever been on a construction site. I work for a utility, where we are parking in lots of areas with lots of people around. It is easy to see that there aren’t any obstructions in the spot (read : children) , and you know it’s clear to back up. When you leave you can pull right out and not need a spotter

Vsgeywhebej wrote:

kanye north wrote:

It's safer.

There's quite a bit of research out there on it.

It's a pretty popular policy in the construction industry. Just google "first move forward" and you'll see plenty of results of companies talking about the rationale for that policy.

+1

All these LRC members haven’t ever been on a construction site. I work for a utility, where we are parking in lots of areas with lots of people around. It is easy to see that there aren’t any obstructions in the spot (read : children) , and you know it’s clear to back up. When you leave you can pull right out and not need a spotter

If I'm on a construction site, I am being paid for my time while I'm waiting for you to back in to your spot. If I am at the grocery store waiting for you to back in, you are stealing my time from me.

Vsgeywhebej wrote:

kanye north wrote:

It's safer.

There's quite a bit of research out there on it.

It's a pretty popular policy in the construction industry. Just google "first move forward" and you'll see plenty of results of companies talking about the rationale for that policy.

+1

All these LRC members haven’t ever been on a construction site. I work for a utility, where we are parking in lots of areas with lots of people around. It is easy to see that there aren’t any obstructions in the spot (read : children) , and you know it’s clear to back up. When you leave you can pull right out and not need a spotter

Does your company have a policy where you need a spotter when you're backing up no matter what?

Anytime you're backing a vehicle into a spot (without a guide) you assume some level of risk. Seeing the spot beforehand is no different than going to the rear of the vehicle, before getting in and backing up, and making sure there isn't anything behind it.

Get a smaller car... wrote:

These people with there “it’s easier when you have a big truck to back in...” herp, derp!!! Get a smaller car then morans and stop compensating for your small wangs. There is no need for a massive F150 or F250 in a city and in most rural areas (where having such a large truck is resonable) there are not enough people to worry about backing into someone when leaving a spot. Backing in is stupid and done mainly by brain dead paranoid types that think they may need to get away quickly because they think they are super secret agents that everyone is after. These are the same type of folks that “NEED” to own assault rifles and handguns. Basically wannabe tough guys compensating for multiple insecurities.

I'm sure you're probably just a dimwitted troll but, OK, I'll bite. Its more likely that YOU are projecting your own small-d!ckedness on to others! Now get your tin can out of my way or get backed over.

here's the difference wrote:

Vsgeywhebej wrote:

+1

All these LRC members haven’t ever been on a construction site. I work for a utility, where we are parking in lots of areas with lots of people around. It is easy to see that there aren’t any obstructions in the spot (read : children) , and you know it’s clear to back up. When you leave you can pull right out and not need a spotter

If I'm on a construction site, I am being paid for my time while I'm waiting for you to back in to your spot. If I am at the grocery store waiting for you to back in, you are stealing my time from me.

Boo hoo for you, learn to give a fuc about someone besides yourself Dick.

My husband worked for a large oil and gas company and it was policy to back in (at least on company property / company time). Safety reasons.

Otherwise, 9 times out of 10, when I see someone backing into a parking space, they are African American. Must be a cultural thing.

Rockstar Games wrote:

Because you might as well get the reverse part out of the way as soon as you can. Do you eat your ice cream before the main dish as well?

Also it's not as safe reversing in those useless minivans and suv's people are obsessed for these days. No rear visibility whatsoever.

Especially those ones with backup cameras with lines to show you where you are going and sensor alarms. No rear visibility.

Folks who back in, particularly with larger vehicles, almost invariably park on top of the line. Typically, they also require multiple maneuvers to get into the spot. I drive a Suburban and strongly believe that the notion that it's easier to back in, rather than out, is a fiction. Get over yourselves, people.

Many companies REQUIRE their employees to back into parking spaces when on company grounds OR company time, regardless of where they are. It is an insurance thing as statistics show you avoid backing-up issues into human beings. I worked for a company whose parent was Schlumberger (big oil), and they made all their underlings not only back into spaces, but we had to annually undergo a driving test!

reewrwf wrote:

Vsgeywhebej wrote:

+1

All these LRC members haven’t ever been on a construction site. I work for a utility, where we are parking in lots of areas with lots of people around. It is easy to see that there aren’t any obstructions in the spot (read : children) , and you know it’s clear to back up. When you leave you can pull right out and not need a spotter

Does your company have a policy where you need a spotter when you're backing up no matter what?

Anytime you're backing a vehicle into a spot (without a guide) you assume some level of risk. Seeing the spot beforehand is no different than going to the rear of the vehicle, before getting in and backing up, and making sure there isn't anything behind it.

They do if there is a two man crew, which sometimes isn’t the case, when I was working in the crude oil industry another reason I heard was because it was the fastest way to get out of danger of a situation arose that might result in an explosion...a very small chance but better safe than sorry

I have always wondered that as well. I am living in Japan and just about everybody reverse parks into small spaces and they are very good at it. I can see why they do it sometimes. It is because it is better visibility wise to drive out in a forward direction and much safer when visibility is limited. Thing is they do it all the time, even when it doesnt make a difference. In countries where there is plenty of space like America maybe it has something to with being able to get a quick getaway if the need arises.

Exactly. I've done towing for a while, and I used to spend 70% of my life in reverse...

its slightly more fuel efficient. hypermilers do it.

because better to back up when warmed up. then have to back up then change dirextions while cold. they also advocate parkin flat or slight downhill so you can roll right off. ideally you could pull straight into a spot like this.

i know its silly, but it is one reason why people do this

If you are a next-level driver, you understand why it is safer to back in. Boils down to it being way easier to pull out of a parking spot than slowly backing out into cross traffic with limited visibility.

Regardless, this is a pretty minute point to get worked up about. It's going to be okay, man. Go for a run or something.

Watch out for tiny cars.