Are you a fronter or a reverser ?

[cumfy]

Last week we were out for a walk, when a near neighbour reversed straight out almost into us.
I had to pull our 8 yo away and slap the back of their Audi.

When the driver realised the situation he was naturally apologetic.
We didn't make a big deal, but when I suggested that it was best to "reverse in, and drive out", rather than "drive in, and reverse out" and that then such accidents/incidents would be significantly less frequent, I was met with rather a blank look and told politely that he would of course do his best to be careful, but otherwise it wasn't really my business which way he parked his car.

I feel that in 90+% of driveways, it is very definitely safer to "reverse in and drive out", and that safety is everyones' business. Clearly, however, as a "reverser" I am in the minority as I've noticed since that about 75% of people round our way are "fronters", many in driveways where it is clearly IMHO dangerous.

C'mon all you "fronters" I really want to know what your opinion/excuse about this is!

You are right and technically, on some roads (main ones) its actually illegal to reverse onto them.. But people still do!

I'm a fronter because of bush positioning and positioning of car seats etc so as not to have to open the door I have to open the widest (that of my youngest child) onto a bush and/or scrape myself up against a big wet bush (stop laughing) when its been raining to get her out. Dont want to swap the seats, as I like the youngest one to be diagonally opposite me in the car so I can glance back and see her at the traffic lights.

I live in a cul-de-sac with very little foot traffic at all so I dont see it as a big safety issue - I look and have rear sensors as well, plus I go very slowly.

I agree with your neighbor that its not your business - you insulted his intelligence by suggesting its safer to reverse in - of course it is if possible, but its not a requirement.

Wow, you must be hell to live with.

I'm a fronter because I have to park close up to the brickwork of the house. Going in front first means I can see better so park closer, and also if I reversed in then eventually I'd have a black mark on the brickwork from the exhaust fumes when pulling away. That said there are very clear sightlines as I am reversing out, it is in a close not a busy road or many pedestrians. If I though it was dangerous then of course I'd park the other way.

I'm a reverser generally but can drive in and turn at home. Carparks I generally reverse as it's easier to get in the space straight imo. I suspect people don't reverse onto their drives because it takes longer, traffic queuing, people watching you make a hash of it, gate posts to hit etc. Reversing into the road is generally quicker, there's more space and minimum hold up to others.

YANBU

Oh, and I'd seriously advise teaching your children better awareness....by 8 you should have taught him how to tell if a car is reversing and not to walk behind it.

Abbierhodes
Me or sloanypony ?

YABU

And I feel no need whatsoever to give my "excuse" for being a "fronter".

An englighman's* castle is his home and woebetide anyone who suggests he enters or exits his castle in any other way than that of his choosing.

*huge nationality assumption made here!

YAB-a-tad-U - is pedestrian responsiblity to check safety of pavement too, and unless he was shooting out of his driveway at ridiculous pace, you should be able to detect movement and pause appropriately?

I drive in and reverse out, I am a crap reverser and if I reverse in I have to straighten up and it goes all wonky and I have to make about 4 attempts but if I reverse out Im going on to the road so it does matter if Im a bit wonky - if you see what I mean!

I have to say I would have been put out with you giving me parking advice too!

I hate people that reverse in to spaces in the supermaket as well - its takes them twice as long and then 3 attempts to straighten up - arrgh just drive in to the space!!!

oops - Englishman - damn spelling errors will get me kicked out of here!

It's not an issue in our driveway, but it's definitely safer in parking spaces to front in and reverse out, and I think it's pretty simple to employ the same technique for a driveway. I.e., look out the back window while you reverse.

I agree with the bloke in question. How he parks is none of your business.

Fronter - we have to get two cars onto the drive, and I have to carefully wind mine round a lamppost to get it in at all, while facing down the slope. No way I'm going to reverse down a slope past the lamppost while simultaneously not hitting DH's car with the opposite corner. Oh, and stopping in time to not go into the assorted wheely-bins.

But it's a quiet cul-de-sac with only 3 more houses/drives past ours, so I just look round carefully before starting to reverse out.

Abbierhodes
Oh you troll!

Either way you're still reversing at some point so what's the difference? Surely you shouldn't walk in front of a car anyway?

Btw, I do whatever I feel like, usually drive into the drive and reverse out and do whatever is needed when out.

Did you know that 86% of statistics are made up on the spot? :p

i live on a main road and therefore drive in and reverse out

i'd rather ask that people on foot pay a bit of attention as blind spots are so named for a reason

OOps clicked on this thread thinking it was a variant on the Friday night bumsex threads.

I go in forwards here as we live in a cul de sac.

At my mum and dad's house I reverse as is on a main road. Am useless at it - once I started driving they got the gate posts removed .

As the other driver I would not have been impressed at you telling me how to park and would also expect an 8 year old to be a bit more car-aware.

My own driveway.... reverse for one side.. front for other side.

Car parks... reverse coz it is easier to get out and I once got stuck which scared me into ever going front into a space ever again.

If I reversed in (up to a wall) I'd not be able to open my boot to unload shopping/buggy etc or remove the crap detritus three small children leave in the car.
Really, reversing in may make more sense but it really is none of your business. Yabu.

Im a fronter, for all the reasons mentioned by notasausage. And because it reduces the chance of me bumping into the husband's other woman which is usually parked on the driveway next to my space because he only drives it occasionally.

And because I can still get a clear enough view of whats around me if I reverse oou. That is probably more to the point, it depends how well you can see. You obviously couldn't see the car any more than he could see you, so in that case it probably would be much safer for him to reverse in and drive out forwards. It's up to him what he does though, and hopefully the incident will have warned him what could happen without your rudeness making him decide he couldn't give a shit.

I have a vague recollection that there's a rule (not sure if it's a law) in the US that in car parks you have to be a fronter?

At home we turn in the drive but otherwise am usually a fronter but will often look for a double space that means I'm a drive thru!

YABU

The gist I'm getting is that for fronters personal convenience trumps safety of others.

Generally I'd say YABU to tell someone how to park. but as he had nearly hit you, he might have just shut up and taken it. ALso I think alot of people just can't reverse properly and don't want to admit it!