To wonder why some idiots assume I've got x-ray vision?

[Giggorata]

I drive a small van - I mean as my private vehicle, not a works van. I've done so for years. I have observed an increasing number of -entitled- heedless pedestrians who just wander behind the van when I'm reversing, hazard lights on and everything. They just walk on behind me when I'm moving.
Supermarket car parks are particularly bad for this. .pedestrians can see I have started to reverse but still cross behind me, where I can't see them, and I might hit them.

Even though I think they're a bunch of blithering idiots, I don't (much) want to hurt them and no doubt if I hit one of them they will try and get some compensation, even though they were negligent.
Now, I know that as a driver, I should behave responsibly towards pedestrians. And I do. I hardly ever run anyone over. I give way to them at crossings, side roads, etc.
But why do people do this now? Don't they realise I can't see through metal? I was always taught not to walk behind any reversing vehicle. And it's in the Highway Code: Never cross behind a vehicle which is reversing, showing white reversing lights or sounding a warning.

Yesterday, a man actually went out of his way to cross a road that I was reversing into.... he wouldn't have it when I told him it was dangerous, I couldn't see him...

Gaaah! . And the first thread I've started, I think....

[Doublevodkaredbull]

YABU.

[JonSnowsWhore]

I love the 'hardly ever run anyone over' but 😂

Some people are idiots though, the amount of people who just step out into side roads without even looking to see if a car is turning into it. I always stop because I know people are in their own world & probably aren't going to look, but one day they'll get run over by someone who is expecting them to stop at the side of the road.

I had words with someone once because she got bumped by a car that was parallel parking, when she had stepped out from behind a big van, how was the driver of the car meant to see her! Do these people never get taught not to cross from behind big parked vehicles??

[Sirzy]

Surely it makes more sense to reverse into the spaces then?

[SugarMiceInTheRain]

Pedestrians are definitely not as aware as they used to be, frequently glued to their device as they wander along (I live near a university and students are especially bad for this). Supermarkets are also terrible for people wandering behind reversing vehicles. Unfortunately you just have to drive with the assumption everyone around you is an idiot! And always reverse into spaces - my mum taught me this when I was learning to drive and I've stuck to it.

[Boodles]

Sirzy, getting your shopping into the boot is hard if you reverse in.

[5foot5]

Sirzy, getting your shopping into the boot is hard if you reverse in

Exactly. Look at the cars in the supermarket car park next time you go. Most of them will have driven in forwards because it is easier to load the shopping from the trolley to the boot.

OP I agree with you. Some people just seem to disengage brain when walking around.

[SparklyLeprechaun]

How would reversing into a space prevent morons from walking behind your car when you're reversing?

[TopEndChops]

I think it's sadly an ever increasing trend of people failing to take responsibility for their own actions. Society is dumbing down in terms of common sense, it makes me mad. I got a clip round the ear as a child for walking behind a reversing car. And I remembered not to do it again.
Also love the hardly ever run anyone over.

[FruSkogKattOla]

Yesterday I noticed a sign painted onto the passenger door of a lorry (not a small van) which said : "If you can read this sign, then PRAY, because I can't see you".

[Whereismumhiding2]

It's horrible isn't it? Even when I'm reversing into the disabled space at school, parents with their children step into/ then cut straight across the very parking place I'm busy reversing into even though there is a perfectly good pavement that means there is NO need for them to do that! And you can't see children who suddenly dart off pavement into road when reversing through back window of a normal car as they are too short, let alone through mirror of a van! I go so slowly if there are any kids walking even near my car... just in anticipation of f*#kwittery

YANBU .. but lol at the 'hardly ever run anyone over'!! .... There are some stupid pedestrians out there!!

[Didyoumeantobesorude1]

People are getting stupider. I think it's something to do with living online and forgetting the practicalities of surviving in real traffic.