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!

I always reverse into spaces at carparks but at home go front way into the drive.

I live on a busy highstreet and when I first moved here I tried reversing in. But once I pulled slightly past my drive so I could then back in even though I'd be indicating someone would be 2" from my back bumper blaring their horn and screaming abuse at me. I gave up, too much traffic.

I drive in to my driveway but can turn round in it so don't reverse out.

However I dimly recall from personal safety lectures a long time ago that its better to reverse into car parking spaces so if you had to make a quick exit you can drive out rather than reverse out. I may have totally imagined that though but sure I read that on some Suzy Lamplugh leaflet years ago.

WTF is a 'fronter'?!

I'd recommend stick to what you know. Once I arrived home after a three hours drive with 3 DC and a grandparent all desperate for the loo so I drove in forwards instead of my usual reversing.

The next day I reversed out and hit a car parked opposite my driveway, as it was in my blind spot.

Ah, I see.

If it was me, I might just be tempted to accidentally on purpose give it a bump....

If someone reversed out of their driveway without looking and killed a child, I'm assuming those of you who are dissing the OP wouldn't blame the child? Or would you?

No drive, but I front into a supermarket car space in my clio.

I like to take my trolley up to my boot to unload shopping, health issues mean I can't lift heavy bags and a large arse issues mean I can't necessarily squeeze down in between the cars.

Oh and myredcardigan, I often find I have to park my little clio a little over the lines. This is, without exception, due to the big fuck off 4X4 needing at least 1 1/2 bays to accomodate their 'Barbie' tank.

I drive in front first because the woman next door reverses (badly) in to the parking area and takes up some of my drive.

If I reversed in I wouldn't be able to get out of the car:)

Well Wubbly, to me it always seems to be little cars over the lines!

And to me, if the adjacent car was over the line I'd park somewhere else. Never ever ever would I squeeze in making me over the next line. What if they then left? Other car park users would think it was me who couldn't drive! I'd rather park further away and walk!

I have never driven anything other than a big BMW. I learned to drive in a BMW 5series. I have never had any trouble revering into any space bigger than my car.

myredcardigan, I would choose another spot, if there was one available, there frequently isn't. Of course, having a little car means I can at least use the half space left by the Barbie tank.

Your point about them leaving is exactly my point, someone like you comes along with your judgy pants on and thinks I can't park. Thankfully, I'm past caring what other people think of me over such trivial matters

I can reverse but, like I say, I need easy access to my boot. It's fine in p&c spot, there's a load of room to get the trolley down but not in an ordinary space and I cannot carry heavy bags.

YANBU.

The car driver's sense of entitlement never ceases to amaze me.

Is the point not that when you emerge from your drive you temporarily encroach on pedestrian territory i.e the pavement. An eight year old might be road aware but any number of other pavement users might have difficultly identifying or responding to a car crossing the pavement (a smaller child, anyone who is hard of hearing/partially sighted/infirm etc etc). Moreover, reversers are making the assumption that they are visible to passing pedestrians - which isn't always the case depending on the driveway. IMO it's just basic manners to emerge from your driveway in the manner which is least risky for other pavement users.

And don't get me started on the arses around my way who like to silently 'roll' reverse their cars down their driveways.

I am a fronter DH is a reverser opposites and all that.

I have seen it happen before my eyes many a time, Wubbly!

I guess I struggle with the concept of no other spaces. Not sure I've ever been to a supermarket with no other spaces at all even when I've ventured to the dreaded 'T'. John Lewis always has about 3000 free too. Maybe in small village car parks or maybe if you shop at lunchtime on a Saturday

Though, yes, I can concede that there is a chance that those I haven't actually seen park have actually squeezed in.

And yes, I do drive a big black pimped up BMW 4x4 but then I live in Wilmslow and it's like a Model T Ford around here! Any colour as long as it's black etc

I ALWAYS reverse in. it's so much easier.

Does anyone watch the IT Crowd?

Did anyone else read the OP in Moss's voice?

Did anyone speculate about the spelling of this apparently new poster's name?

Did most of you pick up the sexual innuendo in the title?

Do any of you think it's time children went back to school after the summer break?

Does anyone have any more questions?

Hey its the missing verse from "The Certainty of Chance".

The only thing I'd judge is idiots who can't reverse properly. If you can't reverse safely, you shouldn't be on the road.

But equally, if you see the arse end of a car with white lights showing, and still think you should walk merrily out in front of it without a care in the world ... OP, you perhaps should have been looking? Is your post not the pedestrian version of 'but your honour, he came out of nowhere'?

I drive forwards onto my drive (fronter? ) and reverse off it into the quiet little cul-de-sac I live on. I have never hit either a pedestrian or a car. But then I suspect the people who live on my street have evolved into higher life forms who are capable of using their eyes and noticing such things as reversing vehicles and those cunning white lights that also warn you a vehicle is reversing. I too can (gasp) look over my shoulder to check behind me and (double gasp) use my mirrors.

Don't get me started on those drivers who insist on reversing into spaces in multi-storey car parks, taking at least three attempts to park successfully while the rest of us wait...and wait...and wait...

OP - surely there is no need to be reversing at all. The answer for all is to have a sweeping driveway with one entry and one exit. Isn't that obvious??

Heaven forbid that DC's should be taught to look for reversing traffic and never walk behind a car with reverse lights on.

Unless you are missing the obvious sarcasm. Big fat YABU.

I like my car too much... I'd either...hit the wall, hit the sloped driveway next to our flat one, or hit the porch.

Get orff my land I'm reversing

Messge received loud and clear mistletoekiss et al

This thread is not as rude as the title suggests.

Disappointed.

v disappointed that this thread is actually only about cars

At home I just drive into my parking space, but everyone faces the same way and there is lots of visibility so there is no problem reversing out (live very rurally)

At my parents when I park on their drive I almost always reverse on.

When parking in carparks there in no set way that I park, it all depends on which way gives more space to get my son in and out, or if I need to use the boot, which way allows this.

I am totally anal about this and always reverse park, everywhere.