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Original poster

Reverse parking v driving in forwards

137 replies

HalloumiHannah · 19/12/2020 12:08

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.

OP posts:
pantsville · 19/12/2020 16:46

Don’t think anyone’s mentioned boot access yet have they? Boot access anyone?

Spudlet · 19/12/2020 16:50

It’s getting a bit Alan Partridge here with all the access. People need access to boots, and traders need access to Dixon’s!

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 19/12/2020 16:53

Partly so I can get to the boot and partly because when lining up to a space to reverse in you have to go past it a little and 8 times out of 10 some knob-brained cunt will get right up your arse so you can't reverse and then sit there beeping at you to move. Completely disregarding the fact that you were indicating left/right.

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Driving & parking
islockdownoveryet · 19/12/2020 17:00


This is true but you don’t have a choice in lots of car parks - the one I was in this morning has no paths. To get to the supermarket from your car (or back) you have to walk around and close to parked cars.
Obviously I'm not saying you can't walk in the car park just be bloody careful . If a car is reversing you don't walk in front of it .

ExclamationPerfume · 19/12/2020 17:16

A hell of a lot of people cannot park. It is so frustrating watching people who have passed their test who just cannot do it. Our roads are all on street parking. Lots of people park so badly leaving huge gaps meaning less cars can fit in.

CaptainMyCaptain · 19/12/2020 17:20

@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
This. I always go in forward in a supermarket if I'm doing a trolley load. Otherwise you'd have to squeeze a trolley in between the cars.
inappropriateraspberry · 19/12/2020 17:50

Always drive straight in. Easy access to boot and easier to open doors for children to get out. Plus, if you need to get a pushchair out the boot you've got room to actually move!
Reversing in can hold up traffic and you're more likely to hit another car/bollard/tree. It can also hold up pedestrians, waiting for you to park so they don't walk in the roadway, just as reversing out does.

PaperMonster · 19/12/2020 17:50

I find it easier to reverse out and can manage to see people easy enough, plus I can get in the boot easy enough then too. I did get nudged as a pedestrian the other day in my work car park when the driver seemed to simultaneously turn their lights on and reverse and obviously hadn’t looked at all!

LilyLongJohn · 19/12/2020 17:57

Why would you reverse into a space to go food shopping, makes loading the boot up near on impossible.

inappropriateraspberry · 19/12/2020 17:58

Once, I was reversing out of a space and a man literally walked straight into the back of my car! He was ok, just completely oblivious. I was checking it was clear, he was further down the car park and could see me moving but just carried on walking! I did get out to make sure all was ok!

goldenharvest · 19/12/2020 18:13

Need to get to the boot so it's forward in and reverse out. I don't anyway see the difference as you have to drive back at one point or the other.

Miseryl · 19/12/2020 18:56

Stealth boat OP can reverse park 🙄 Hope you don't commit any other parking sins OP otherwise we may have to take your Perfect
of the Year Award off you! 😂

Miseryl · 19/12/2020 18:57

Should say Perfect Driver of the Year!

Lordamighty · 19/12/2020 19:08

Reverse parkers in busy car parks annoy the life out of me. Everyone has to wait while they do their reversing, it is especially annoying in multi storey car parks when you have to queue on the ramps.
My nearest large M&S has angled parking with signs clearly stating drive in, reverse out & they still reverse in.

Original poster
HalloumiHannah · 19/12/2020 20:29

@Miseryl

Stealth boat OP can reverse park 🙄 Hope you don't commit any other parking sins OP otherwise we may have to take your Perfect of the Year Award off you! 😂
It’s not a stealth boast, it’s a fact - I can reverse park. A pretty basic driving manoeuvre that anyone in charge of a car should be confident doing.
OP posts:
DonkeyMcFluff · 19/12/2020 20:36

Reversing into a space the width of your car is a lot harder than reversing out into the full width of the road. I can drive in forwards quite easily but I’d struggle to reverse in without hitting the car next to me.

DonkeyMcFluff · 19/12/2020 20:39

A pretty basic driving manoeuvre that anyone in charge of a car should be confident doing
I haven’t reversed into a space since I took my test. If I reverse round a corner I do it in the middle of the road, not hugging the kerb like the instructor makes you do. I don’t fancy scratching my alloys on the kerb if I misjudge it slightly.

smismas · 19/12/2020 20:41

I reverse if I can- so as long as the space allows for opening the boot etc! I much prefer to reverse in than out, feels safer.

Miseryl · 19/12/2020 21:12

So you drive anywhere, on every type of road OP?

SmellsLikeAHamsterCage · 19/12/2020 21:13

I would much prefer to reverse in rather than out. My local Tesco has a few rows of parking bays that have walk ways separating them. So I try to always park in them, so then I can reverse in AND easily access the boot. Otherwise I have to drive in forwards. 🤷🏻‍♀️

MirandaMarple · 19/12/2020 21:14

I would never even consider reversing into a parking space. It just doesn't enter my head to do it.

Original poster
HalloumiHannah · 19/12/2020 21:25

@Miseryl

So you drive anywhere, on every type of road OP?
What have ‘different types of roads’ got to do with my opinion that, in general, reversing into parking spaces is safer than reversing into busy car parks?
OP posts:
Grellbunt · 19/12/2020 22:19

Can’t believe the number of folk saying they couldn’t reverse into a space . Wow. Get smaller cars or some driving lessons or summat. That’s kinda bizarre.

caffeinebuzz · 19/12/2020 22:22

I find it much easier to reverse into a space but at the supermarket force myself to drive in so I can unload shopping from the trolley.

DonkeyMcFluff · 20/12/2020 01:00

Can’t believe the number of folk saying they couldn’t reverse into a space . Wow. Get smaller cars or some driving lessons or summat. That’s kinda bizarre.
It’s not something you need to be able to do though. Drive in, reverse out works perfectly well. I’ve never been able to reverse and can’t parallel park either - I just kept doing the driving test until I randomly got an examiner who didn’t choose a reversing manoeuvre.