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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:

2goatytocare · 08/11/2013 10:56

Exactly, you are supposed to be reversing slowly and you can see people! Unmanned toddlers on the other hand...

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 08/11/2013 11:06

Highway Code

201
Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.

202
Look carefully before you start reversing. You should

use all your mirrors
check the ‘blind spot’ behind you (the part of the road you cannot see easily in the mirrors)
check there are no pedestrians (particularly children), cyclists, other road users or obstructions in the road behind you.
Reverse slowly while

checking all around
looking mainly through the rear window
being aware that the front of your vehicle will swing out as you turn.
Get someone to guide you if you cannot see clearly.

SofaKing · 08/11/2013 11:22

This thread is horrifying.

I don't have a car, so I walk to the supermarket. There are no paths, so I have to walk across acres of car park to get there, and then walk back to the bus stop with the shopping.

Now I have to stop and wait in the freezing cold for someone to reverse, as slowly as fuck, even though I have right of way, because they feel entitled to go first. And if they hit me, well it's my fault, because even though they broke the law I should have been expecting them to do so.

If you think it is in any way reasonable that all pedestrians should give way to you reversing out of your space at all times, because it is 'tricky' to obey the law, please give your car up until you learn to drive it properly. Before you kill someone and have to live with that for the rest of your life.

ChippingInBatshitArse · 08/11/2013 11:44

Sofaking - so you think that if someone has started reversing out of a space you should just be able to walk behind their car and have them see you and stop for you? Even though they were moving before you 'arrived'. Entitled much?

2goatytocare · 08/11/2013 11:53

If they were already reversing then yes you should wait

eurochick · 08/11/2013 11:53

It's foolish to walk behind a car that is reversing because you have no idea whether or not that person is a good observant driver, distracted by kids in the car or whatever. Being in the right won't prevent you from being injured if the driver is a twat. But a driver should always give way to pedestrians. I reverse into a space whenever possible, including at the supermarket. It is not that big a deal to carry the shopping a few bags at a time the length of the car.

2goatytocare · 08/11/2013 11:55

Er do you walk out in front of cars when you are crossing the road or do you wait 'in the freezing cold' for them. Perhaps it's for the best you don't drive

Sidge · 08/11/2013 11:59

Well of course drivers shouldn't reverse into pedestrians walking behind them, but then pedestrians shouldn't walk in front or behind a moving vehicle!

Absolutely the pedestrian has right of way and I would ALWAYS stop for a pedestrian but why on earth would anyone take the risk of walking behind a half-ton lump of metal that is moving, even if only at 2-3 mph?

valiumredhead · 08/11/2013 12:01

Last time I reversed into a space was on on driving test

MrsCakesPremonition · 08/11/2013 12:02

I'm often surprised how oblivious pedestrians in car parks seem to be of the cars around them - especially the one who know they are walking in the road but carry on texting on their phones--.

To my mind it is a saftey belt and braces - the driver is vigilant, the pedestrian is vigilant and the chances of an accident are much reduced.

2goatytocare · 08/11/2013 12:05

YY to that MrsCakes

Fakebook · 08/11/2013 12:05

Yanbu! I hate this! Sometimes they give you a gormless look in the mirror and carry on walking! It's so rude. I always stop and let cars reverse or park. It's just politeness.

limitedperiodonly · 08/11/2013 12:09

On my driving test I was reversing around a corner and people kept walking behind my car.

I kept stopping, but how stupid do you have to be to walk behind a reversing car, especially one with a whacking great driving school sign on the roof, so is driven by someone who might not be competent?

Not to mention rude.

The examiner asked why I kept stopping and I said because people kept walking behind me. He answered: 'Continue slowly. They'll wait on the pavement.'

They did.

2goatytocare · 08/11/2013 12:10

Some people are like lemmings

StanleyLambchop · 08/11/2013 12:15

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.

But when my car was stolen from my driveway (reversed in, so they drove it out) the policeman who came out advised me to drive onto the drive in future so that anyone stealing my car would have to reverse out-and this would slow them down and make it more difficult (especially on my very long, narrow, winding driveway)

squeakytoy · 08/11/2013 12:26

I can never understand people who reverse into supermarket spaces.. then proceed to try and squeeze their trolley in between the gap so that they can put their shopping in the boot.. scratching the adjacent car while doing so...

If someone walking around a supermarket carpark is oblivious to the fact that cars are likely to be reversing out of spaces, they should stay at home.

jammypuddingmonkey · 08/11/2013 12:27

We have a LOUD reversing beeper on our van to warn people, because of one particular car park where for some reason, people are allergic to the pavement and prefer to walk behind all the cars. It doesn't save time for them to do this. It's just bizarre and dangerous.

Dh can't reverse in most spaces- bollards on the pavement tend to be incompatible with lowering a ramp out the back- very few places we can park without risking being run over himself as he gets out. So he either parks right away from everyone, in some distant corner of a car park, or in certain disabled spaces if they're free.

Some people walk so close they step on the damn ramp when it's out, as they wander behind us off the pavement- they may as well walk in the back of the van. Then they glare at me for having it out or have a good look into the back. I may get a bit irrationally angry about this (it might actually be a good job I can't drive- I'm astounded by the pure stupidity of some drivers out there- it's scary). I have cones to put behind the van and everything, if needed, when we park up. We also have a camera on the dashboard- we see a lot of near misses and it's frightening.

I can't drive and I don't step off the pavement to walk behind reversing cars if I can help it. But likewise they shouldn't suddenly begin to reverse if I'm walking behind and was there first. Especially if I'm on the pavement.

I don't expect them to suddenly reverse either, we both need to be paying attention- can't all be on the pedestrian or all on the driver. A lot of drivers, I've noticed, are not paying attention.

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