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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Supermarket Car Parks

163 replies

Markymark20 · 15/07/2018 10:54

AIBU to think it is incredibly selfish of people to take extra time to reverse their car into a parking space in a car park when it would take a fraction of the time to drive in front first. Usually there is a queue of traffic behind them waiting for them to slowly reverse in!!!! They couldn’t car less about wasting other people’s time. They live in their own SELFISH bubble.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 15/07/2018 11:54

I find reverse parking much easier, but always go in nose fires at the supermarket and at work as I need boot access. How do the reverse parkers load their shopping -serious question?

I don't have any issue waiting a few moments while someone gets into a space. I did, however, get fed up with the woman in front of us at a garage who filled her car, went in to pay with three cars waiting behind her, wandered slowly round the aisles in the shop, browsed the magazines, came out, got in her car, distributed ice lollies to all the kids in the back, rummaged through her bag for tissues, faffed about with her seatbelt, and finally drove away from the pump. Two cars filled up, paid and left at the pumps either side of her while we waited for her. Good job we weren't in a rush, but I thought she was pretty thoughtless and selfish.

Mamia15 · 15/07/2018 11:56

I take it you nicked that space just as the other driver was about to reverse into it.....??

MikeUniformMike · 15/07/2018 11:57

I assume that OP is a crap car parker. I always reverse in as it means fewer gear changes when you set off.
I'm shit hot at parking.

purgotas · 15/07/2018 11:58

I am an expert at reverse parking but weirdly it's only because I am shit at reversing out of spaces because I too afraid of knocking someone down

LavendarGreen · 15/07/2018 12:01

Don't be silly @MarkyMark20 It is MUCH easier to reverse IN and drive OUT forward.

And as has been said, you will STILL get 'held up' if people have to reverse out! Not very bright are you?!

And I can only surmise that you are not a very good driver.... Wink

If this gets to you so much, I think you may need to .....

Supermarket Car Parks
CandleWithHair · 15/07/2018 12:02

All the sensible reasons above, plus my car has a lovely reversing camera with guide lines which just makes reverse parking EXTRA satisfying. Making the lines match up with the lines either side of the space is a simple but joyful victory that makes me feel like a parking ninja Grin

FASH84 · 15/07/2018 12:02

I usually reverse park, but don't at the supermarket if it gives me no space to load the boot, if it was a space with a path or room to load behind I still reverse in. I've seen people take much longer to get into spaces nose first than it takes me to reverse in. The only issue I have is when you clearly indicate swing round to reverse and some impatient idiot either tries to pull into the space or pulls right up next to you, then you have to wait for them to reverse so you can park.

TwigTheWonderKid · 15/07/2018 12:02

I reckon it probably takes me about 30 more seconds to go in backwards so it's hardly making anyone wait long is it? I think having a little bit of patience is a price worth paying to allow people to park in what is a much safer way

Marmite27 · 15/07/2018 12:03

Easier to pull in for packing purposes, your boot is easier to get to that way.

worstmovieever · 15/07/2018 12:05

But if I reversed in how do I get the shopping in my boot? Btw my car has auto reverse so it's not as if I can't I just really wouldn't be able to get my bags in the boot. My car has 360 cameras and sensors so even if a little person was to step near my car I would see & hear them before most people.

Sparklingbrook · 15/07/2018 12:05

Has OP gone off to practice their reverse parking? Grin

catsmother · 15/07/2018 12:05

I reverse in, it doesn't take ages because I'm well practiced and have good spacial awareness. When I come back to pack my shopping I plant the trolley by my bonnet and carry the bags to the boot, it's no big deal and yes, I can still open my boot no problem. I think I'm influenced by the fact that I once read about it being safer, for women in particular, to be able to drive straight out after they'd parked, just in case they were ever being followed. Admittedly I don't usually feel unsafe in supermarkets but you never know! Conversely, I have been held up numerous times by people going backwards and forwards trying to nose into a space. It's not the manoeuvre which is the issue it's crap drivers, whichever way they do it!

Raven88 · 15/07/2018 12:05

My DH always reverse parks because it's easier to get out and safer. What happened to form this opinion.

OliviaStabler · 15/07/2018 12:09

I avoid this as I only go shopping at quiet times Grin

DrWhy · 15/07/2018 12:10

emummy I was just going to say that my company insists on reverse parking as it is safer, as do most oils and gas and associated companies so almost everyone in Aberdeen automatically reverse parks - thinking about it at the swimming pool car park this morning there wasn’t a single forward parked car!
I can see an advantage to forward parking if you need to access the boot and it would be difficult otherwise but generally it’s safer (and I find quicker and easier in total) to reverse park then drive out.

Honeyroar · 15/07/2018 12:10

You can't leave a trolley at the bonnet at most carparks round here, they're all on a slope, you'd end up with the trolley rolling into someone's car.

ProperLavs · 15/07/2018 12:10

It's much quicker to reverse in to a space- I don't get it op. Unless of course you can't drive properly.

GreatWesternValkyrie · 15/07/2018 12:10

They couldn’t car less about wasting other people’s time. They live in their own SELFISH bubble

I’d strongly recommend online grocery shopping for you Op.

Goldmandra · 15/07/2018 12:12

The wheels that steer being at the front makes it easier to get the car at the correct angle to enter the space if you reverse in so its actually easier to reverse in and drive out than vice versa.

It's also safer because you can check that the space you are reversing into has no people/objects in it and that is unlikely to change. Reversing out of the space mean manoeuvring into an area which people are much more likely to enter without you seeing them.

SoupDragon · 15/07/2018 12:14

It's easier to manoeuvre a car forward than backwards

I find it’s the opposite. Visibility is far better reversing due to the wing mirrors. It is then easier to come out of the space forwards as you can actually see the “road” properly.

Mamia15 · 15/07/2018 12:19

Oh dear - no one seems to have agreed with the OP.

I am still waiting to hear if you did nick that space while waiting for the other driver to reverse into it....

WhoKnowsWhereTheW1neGoes · 15/07/2018 12:20

The boot packing thing is a real problem. Not only might the trolley roll away from the front of the car while you are round the back, it's hard to carry bags of shopping down the side without touching the car next to yours.

QueenoftheNights · 15/07/2018 12:21

Nope. Because it's safer to drive out front first. Especially when there may be toddlers on the loose.

Is life so short you can't wait for someone to park their car safely?

Iamclearlyamug · 15/07/2018 12:22

I always reverse park at the super market, and I can assure you I do so quickly and safely

just because you're clearly incapable of doing so doesn't mean you should complain about the rest of us 🙄🙄

Sirzy · 15/07/2018 12:23

My partner is ex military so is very much of the “you must always reverse park” mentality so since being with him it has become normal for me to reverse too.

It drives me mad at things like concerts where everyone is leaving the xarpark at the same time when people have driven in and then it slows down the emptying while they manoeuvre out rather than just being able to drive out