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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect shoppers not to walk behind me whilst I'm reversing out of my parking space?

92 replies

Joysmum · 07/11/2013 18:55

Given most people arrive at the supermarket by car, surely everyone realises how dangerous it is to walk behind a reversing car. There are blind spots and you also need to make sure you're not going to hit the car either side of you so aren't always able to look behind.

Don't even get me started with parents who do this with their kids.

OP posts:

makemineabacardi · 07/11/2013 20:51

When I say taught, I mean the safety aspects of it are taught, not just the actual manoeuvre

everlong · 07/11/2013 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

redshifter · 07/11/2013 21:06

It has been on the driving test for a good many years now.

People are silly if they walk in the way of a reversing car. However it is illegal to reverse from a side road onto a main road with out assistance, or even reverse onto a road from a driveway/entrance. There is good reason for this, it is unsafe. Can't people see this?
The Highway code says it is the drivers reponsibility to think about the way you would leave a space before you enter and always to choose the safest option. It could be considered careless driving if you had an accident in this situation.
If you hit a person or car when reversing like this it would be considered your fault as you would be the one entering the "road" from a parked position, especially when you didn't choose the safer parking option.
This would be the case whether a pedestrian was being silly or not.

redshifter · 07/11/2013 21:09

If you drove forward into a bay parking on driving test today you would have at least 2 points marked against you. Get15 points, you fail test.

CaterpillarCara · 07/11/2013 21:12

I always reverse into a park. I also always deliberately leave the first few empty spaces to try and ensure I am not holding anyone up (in places where relevant, obviously). I have to park in a parking building near school sometimes, and just drive up to the roof to escape all the maniac parking below.

That said, in the wrong hands, reversing in can be dangerous. I had a car reverse toward my car as I drove down the road today! She didn't indicate or anything, just started driving backward into a parallel park she decided she wanted. I couldn't go round her (big bus coming other way), so luckily the car behind was far enough behind that I could reverse the wrong way down the road out of her way...

BrianTheMole · 07/11/2013 21:13

However it is illegal to reverse from a side road onto a main road with out assistance, or even reverse onto a road from a driveway/entrance.

Illegal? Really? I don't believe you!!!

Drgonzosattorney · 07/11/2013 21:14

Absolutely with Everlong! I usually have butt of car sticking out so I can pack boot car with shopping. The number of times I slowly begin to reverse out and someone is doddering, slowly behind pretending not to notice that i have a monstrous beast if a Honda Jazz bearing down on them, is incredidible. I live in a small village where locals saunter across road looking neither left nor right! Our 7 year olds could teach them how to survive!

RevelsRoulette · 07/11/2013 21:15

Now I know where all the people who walk directly behind or in front of my car while it is already moving come from. they're you lot

Yes, you look for pedestrians before starting your manoeuvre but when you are already moving and someone walks inches in front of your car? What is that about?

Yes of course you stop. Yes of course you are moving very slowly and you are looking around you. Yes you don't even begin to move until you have looked to see that nobody is about to walk by the car. Yes you must always give way to a pedestrian, but when you have someone park their own car next to you and then walk behind you when you are moving and are halfway out of your space, you have to wonder what on earth they are thinking.

I have been reversing into a space (I prefer to reverse in and go out forwards) and had people walk behind me. Between me and the space. Obviously I stop and let them go but I have to ask myself why they chose to do that. It's not safe to be so unaware when walking in a car park. Not everyone is carefully looking around them as they pull out, unfortunately.

BrianTheMole · 07/11/2013 21:18

Now I know where all the people who walk directly behind or in front of my car while it is already moving come from. they're you lot

oops

specialsubject · 07/11/2013 21:19

reverse in. It's the sensible way. If you can't do it take lessons.

There is always space between the cars, although you might have to take the stuff out of the trolley. I have an estate car and so have to be selective in the spaces I use in the supermarket car park. Doesn't kill me to walk a bit further. BTW the tailgate swings through quite a small arc so it doesn't need much room behind. All this inconvenience is trivial, it is SAFER to reverse in.

that said, many people are in a dream, on the phone or deaf (especially those under 25 who have blown their hearing with headphones) so don't expect anyone on foot to notice a moving car. Your job is to think for them, as the person in charge of the heavy object.

RevelsRoulette · 07/11/2013 21:21

It's ok. I've always wanted to meet mners. I'll try to not run you over then we can go have a coffee.

redshifter · 07/11/2013 21:23

but it's clear to see that many people think it's their god given right to be as stupid as they like, then blame someone else
Er, yes. Like, their right to be stupid enough to drive in, forcing them to reverse out into a busy supermarket car park that has other cars driving along your intended path, as well as many small children around who would be too short for you to see. And them blame someone else when they run them over.
Would you reverse out onto a main road at a T-junction? If you had an accident they would be right to blame you.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 07/11/2013 21:28

There is always space between the cars

No there isn't. And if the car park is on even a slight slope your trolley will slide off into the distance while you're taking bags 1 and 2 to the boot, or putting child in seat.

And how would you suggest I get the pushchair in between the cars with no spaces?

As for being 'stupid enough to drive in', go to any car park and 50% of the cars are driven in, because probably, like me, they were never told of this new MN rule that you back into a space. In fact, in the car park at my drs there are big notices on the wall telling you to park facing the wall.

Sidge · 07/11/2013 21:31

I hate going to the supermarket and shop online as much as possible.

I hate people that zoom around the carparks like it's bloody Silverstone and not Asda.

I hate people that bimble around car parks in a little world of their own, paying no attention to what's going on around them and wandering down the middle of the road instead of keeping to the sides or the walkways.

I hate people who drive the wrong way up the parking lanes and look aghast at you when they meet you head on because you're driving the right way.

I hate people that drive cars they can't park.

I think people just annoy me

MokuMoku · 07/11/2013 21:33

In the big shopping centre near where we used to live it was actually against the rules to reverse in and you got fined if you did. It was all angled parking.

BrianTheMole · 07/11/2013 21:37

It's ok. I've always wanted to meet mners. I'll try to not run you over then we can go have a coffee

Or if you run me over we can have a quick chat whilst we wait for the ambulance. You'll say, I told you so, and I'll, well, probably cry.

DoJo · 07/11/2013 21:47

It's astonishing that the proportion of Mumsnetter's who claim to reverse into spaces is not represented in any of the supermarket carparks I use regularly - most people drive in straight to allow access to their boots with their shopping. Clearly there are a couple of supermarkets somewhere in the country where all the MNers reverse park and I am not visiting any of them...

SootikinSkywalker · 07/11/2013 22:19

It isn't illegal to reverse from a driveway onto a road. Sadly I have to go forwards into my drive and reverse out.

My drive is parallel to the road rather than at a right angle and the roads one way, I wouldn't physically be ale to reverse my car through the gate and then turn it into the drive from a busy road. I've managed to reverse out without an accident for 12 years. I do always reverse into car parking spaces.

MaidOfStars · 08/11/2013 08:46

I avoid the "reverse into space" manoeuvre by parking miles away from the doors and driving forward through the row next to the one I end up in. Usually leaves the boot free as well.

SilverApples · 08/11/2013 08:59

I always drive into a space and reverse carefully and patiently out.
There are often people wandering around the supermarket car park, oblivious to any traffic, it's like a zombie VG and my task is to avoid hitting or alarming any of them.

lessonsintightropes · 08/11/2013 09:05

YABU. I am so so sick of selfish drivers who would rather run me over than obey the Highway Code and let me past first.

TarkaTheOtter · 08/11/2013 09:40

I just wait until there are no pedestrians crossing behind me and then reverse out. If one comes along I stop and wait til they've passed. It's only tricky when I am parked between two behemoths with tinted windows and don't have a clear view. I'd give way to a car when reversing, why not a pedestrian.

DottyboutDots · 08/11/2013 09:47

This is one of the those RL vs MN posts. As most people stack their shopping in the boot they drive into the spot front first. I very rarely see all these safety conscious posters actually using a car and reverse parking. They must all be at one utopian car park.

I hate pedestrians walking past and almost hit someone once. I was very upset especially as there was a pavement. I milimetre out now, rather than inch out but I still go in front first.

DottyboutDots · 08/11/2013 09:48

upset as in shaken and teary, not at all angry.

badguider · 08/11/2013 10:49

What a lot of drama. No one is doing to kill or even injure anyone if you reverse out at 2-3mph. The only person in danger would be a completely unattended toddler but that's a different issue.

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