Reverse parking v driving in forwards

[HalloumiHannah]

I suppose this is more of an AIBU. I’ve just been to Aldi. Busy carpark, lots of people walking/pushing trolleys around going in to Aldi or the other shops in the retail park. And lots of people reversing their cars out of parking spaces into the carpark, having to slam brakes on to avoid people are milling about, struggling to get the angle right to pull away. This then causes congestion as other cars approach. People taking 2 or 3 attempts to turn the wheel to get into the space into the first place.

Why on earth don’t more people reverse into parking spaces? That way, you’re going backwards into an area with fewer pedestrians, and you have a much clearer view when driving away. I really don’t understand it! Surely it’s so much safer to reverse in and drive out? My elderly neighbour was almost caught by a car last week that started backing out of a space without looking (there was no other path for her to walk on), if that driver had reversed in he would have seen her straight away.

[Bagelsandbrie]

I hate reverse parking and will never do it. I find it really difficult. Saying that though I’d rather drive right over to the other side of a car park and have a longer walk to the shops just to avoid parking next to anyone else. (Been driving 15 years, no accidents, just hate reversing)!

[ChablisandCrisps]

How are you going to load a trolley full of shopping into the boot if said boot is bumper to the car behind?! One or two bits, sure but we are a family of 6 so buy so much its not feasible

[yeOldeTrout]

Takes longer to park so then they hold up other traffic/people when parking. People do the easier thing first & the harder thing second (is human nature).

[TeenPlusTwenties]

At supermarkets I always drive in forwards otherwise it is a complete pain trying to unload the shopping afterwards.

Elsewhere I tend to reverse park, especially if going to the theatre (I wish) and everyone will be leaving at the same time.

[TFSRM]

I agree with you OP. Much safer to reverse into a space than reverse out of one.

[itsausername]

In a supermarket car park I drive in so I have access to the boot for loading shopping. Would be difficult otherwise. I do reverse elsewhere though.

[PowerhousePatty]

I always reverse park into a bay except when I go to the supermarket because reverse parking into the bay means you have to try to squeeze your trolley between cars to get to the boot or leave your trolley at the front of the car while you take your bags to the boot and risk it rolling away into other people’s cars.

[PuppyMonkey]

They do it so they can access their boot more easily.

End of thread.

[JazzyGeoff]

I reverse park wherever I can because I'm a shortarse who hates reversing out into traffic flow. But it's not always possible if I'm doing a full shop because I need to get the trolley to the boot.

[Clymene]

I don't reverse into parking spaces in supermarkets because I want to load my shopping into the boot easily.

I have cameras so I don't typically run people over (who shouldn't be milling about in a car park in the first place)

[mummatobeat33]

Parking spaces for shops are designed for you to drive in so you are able to easily access the boot space for your shopping.

[Rainb0wDrops]

Same as others, will always choose to reverse park (actually find it harder to drive in to a space) but in a supermarket you need to be able to access the boot

[Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin]

Because a lot of people can’t park properly.

It doesn’t matter if I reverse or forward park, I always have a big arse car/van ect park next to me (even if there’s loads of empty spaces, or I’ve parked miles away) so I can’t see bog all when driving out of a space. Can you tell this pisses me off? 😂

[SimonJT]

I always reverse park, when I went to the States for six months it was a hard habit to break.

Some people don’t like reverse parking, other people just struggle to do it.

You aren’t really taught on lessons, I was taught in empty carparks, I had never actually done it with two cars in the spaces next to me. Not everyone has the confidence to give it a go, plus some other carpark users lack the patience required to wait 30 seconds while someone backs in.

[ApolloandDaphne]

I am a big fan of reverse parking and am good at it, however at the supermarket I always go in front first so I can get my shopping into the boot.

[EmmaStone]

I generally prefer to reverse park, but if shopping, as stated above, I need access to the boot.

[Movement05]

I'd find it hard to load my shopping into the boot if I reversed in. Plus, it is just as much up to people walking through the car park to watch out
for cars reversing out as it is for the drivers who are doing it. IME they rarely do.

[QuestionableMouse]

Cause I have a big car and can't fit the trolley down the side so I can fill the boot.

Because some days I have my mum with me and she's a wheelchair user.

Because I'm not convinced that it's any safer in reality when you get people wandering through the row of cars without paying the slightest bit of attention and find people who proclaim it's sooo much better to be unbearably smug.

[HalloumiHannah]

I do see the boot issue, I can see how that would be tricky. And I know some supermarkets have better footpaths than others, so you could reverse in and still access your boot. But just now there was 3 cars edging out backwards. Cars were backed up trying to access that road as there were spaces, but no one could move until these cars did 374 point turns to get their cars out of the spaces. And pedestrians with trolleys around too, it just seemed so dangerous

[BioBins]

I passed my test last year, and I've never been taught to reverse into a parking space. It's not on the test as my centre doesn't have any parking spaces. I've wouldn't feel confident reversing in, but I know how to reverse out fine.

[HalloumiHannah]

Also totally agree some pedestrians need to take more care - but in this particular car park you have to walk in the car park area, there’s the odd zebra crossing but no dedicated paths. That’s how my neighbour was almost caught - a car just shot out backwards

[YellowPostItPad]

Because of putting the shopping in the boot.

[Mylittleturkeysandwich]

I find reverse parking much more straightforward. Reverse in, drive out and in a large(ish) car I've never had an issue with being able to get into my boot.

[MangoFeverDream]

I never reverse park (I’m terrible at it) but lived in Japan where literally everyone does it. You’d love it OP.

Only foreigners like me did the pull-in.

No regrets.

[Nc135]

Because it is difficult to fill the boot with shopping if you have reversed in. Simples.