To get really annoyed when someone parks next to me in a quiet car park!

It’s easier to park next to a car because you can see it, unlike the lines. If you want to park somewhere leaving enough space for yourself you have to find a space next to an already parked car that you can make enough space that can’t be filled eg next to a very small car or a car parked near to the lines on the other side or on the end of a row and so on. That way you are more in control of the space than if you try to leave an empty space next to you. I say this from years of experience of lugging a cello around and needing enough space to get it out of the back seat.

There is a very simple explanation to all of this.

So many drivers in the UK are terrible at using their mirrors and bizarrely refuse to use the most powerful tool in a driver's armoury for reasons unknown to me.

There are three scenarios I see where this is an issue , it is rife on the school run:

• Parking in a bay People who don't want to use their mirrors to line up with the parking lines, will just aim nose first at the nearest car, and then straighten up to leave a "distance" between them and the next car. Chances are you're therefore within a bay, so you don't have to use the dreaded mirrors right?!
• Parallel parking I have seen people drive nose into spaces which don't really allow for it, and then do this weird shuffle back and forwards without altering the line of their car, meaning they are parked 40cm from the kerb. The reality is , no mirror usage so no awareness of where the kerb is.
• Reversing on a road If a driver has all the parked cars on their left side, they see a car coming but decide to carry on, and that car doesn't give way (because, Highway Code says it's their priority and road is clear their side)... oh the panic! Reversing means looking at mirrors, and the mirror avoider is now in the worst case scenario. I have seen five minute standoffs, huffing, getting out of the car and gesticulating... all in the name of avoiding a glance or two at a mirror or lining up the car.

So yeah, I think the root cause of this lemming like activity is lazy, entitled, feckless Brits who just use objects around them as positional markers instead of actually using the car the way it was designed - with MIRRORS!

Have you actually read the thread or even just the OP?

That’s the very issue - people park cars far away from the entrance in a quiet part to have space, yet someone comes and parks right next to them, and not in any of the surrounding dozens of empty bays.

Weird isn't it? I see the same phenomenon when changing for a swim. I usually go at a quiet time but if someone else comes in whilst I'm changing the chances are they'll use the cubicle next to me rather than any of the other 40ish empty ones. Obviously they're free to use whichever but why? Similarly we can put our stuff out on an empty beach and yep, same thing, only other people that show up apparently yearn to be close to us!

Asking why people park in an empty space in a car park? Um, ok.

I’m glad it isn’t just me, this really annoys me! So much so that I often think I’ll print little notes and leave them on windscreens asking why they do it!

Being in the next bay isn't 'right up against'.

Being in the next bay isn't 'parking against' another car.

Being in the next bay isn't blocking anyone in though.

That's why you're generally supposed to reverse in.

Its so their car has another car to talk to while you're gone. They see your car looking lonely and feel sorry for it. I always feel sorry for cars that are parked facing a wall with nothing interesting to look at.

That is so annoying. I once parked up in a furniture shop car park on a Sunday morning. No other cars at all. I still parked a bit further away, went in and had a browse.
Came out to see two more cars parked up. One on either side of my car. In an otherwise completely empty car park. so annoying.

If people have this much trouble in car parks, get the bus.

Yup, I try to find and end or corner space against a kerb or verge, but unfortunately it seems common these days for car parks to have shrubs in corners so such spaces are often overgrown so you end up fighting past braches etc.

How did you pass your driving test? 🫣

I do and the sods still ignore all the empty spaces they pass and park next to mine.

😂😂😂

I think it annoys most people.

Humans by nature are territorial. It’s quite natural to think a space is yours and no one will want to park there because they’ll feel the same as you re leaving spaces.

Unfortunately we are also a unique diverse bunch and it doesn’t work out that way.

The trick is an end space where someone can only mark one side of you!!!!

Do don’t understand how doors work?

If you read even a few comments on this thread you’d know people do park far away with no cars around them . Only to return to a car right up against theirs.

Weird comment. It’s not relating to the post at all. Regardless of vehicle size it is weird to park against another car if you don’t have to

Are you saying they parked so close you were physically unable to get into your car and had to wait until the driver came back?

What did you do that required a note? Did you scrape their car? 😂

To be fair if they are in the space correctly then it isn't your problem, you just choose to make it that.