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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I am baffled by reverse parking

121 replies

PookieDo · 07/09/2018 23:42

This might make me sound like a total nut job but today I went to 2 really big multi story car parks which just blew my mind, and I just have to ask people why they reverse into spaces? It is becoming a really irrational thing to me - being held up by 20 people on my way in or out very very slowly reversing back into spaces. I just swing my car in the space front first, then reverse out in one complete movement (unless pedestrians present obviously). No 28 point turns required

In my brain it doesn’t make any sense. It’s much harder and time consuming to reverse into a space than out of one. If you are shopping, your boot is now around the back of the car, close to the wall/another car and you can’t get a trolley down the side of the car so you have to carefully take all the bags down the narrow-ish gap, minding your car and the car next to load your boot.

Am I a loony for letting this annoy me so much?

OP posts:
AtiaoftheJulii · 07/09/2018 23:45

If you can reverse out in one go, you should be able to reverse in in one go. Maybe those people would be just as faffy if they'd pulled in forwards and were then reversing back out again.

I reverse in because I like being ready to go.

AspieHere · 07/09/2018 23:45

It's much better to reverse into a space and drive out again. You can't see properly when reversing out of a space. I always reverse park. Saying that I can do it quickly. People who take bloody ages drive mad, it's really not that difficult.

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 07/09/2018 23:47

Much safer to reverse in and drive out.

DiveBombingSeagull · 07/09/2018 23:47

Safer to drive forward out of a space as your vision is obscured by adjacent cats when reversing out of a space.

ErictheGuineaPig · 07/09/2018 23:47

This is about people who are bad at reversing. They would hold you up whichever way they went in. I find it much easier to get into a space by reversing in - front first generally means a bit of back and forth for me so I have enough space for the car doors. Reversing I can do in one go. It also feels much safer - reversing into a busy car park with cars moving and people walking is far from ideal.

Lougle · 07/09/2018 23:48

Oh no, I always, always reverse into a space. I hate driving into spaces. I don't do 28 point turns, though. One reverse in, with a quick draw forward to straighten my wheels, if necessary.

DiveBombingSeagull · 07/09/2018 23:48

Cars. FFS. Cats are a pita but they don’t obstruct car parks.

Howhot · 07/09/2018 23:48

I can reverse in easier than just pulling in. I'm quicker reversing. Also if you're in a busy car park how the hell can you see what is going on if you start reversing out of spaces??Confused it's dangerous.

negomi90 · 07/09/2018 23:48

Because there's less likely to be people/things in the space then on the road.
I like coming out forwards as I can see better in the busier bit.

Marmite27 · 07/09/2018 23:48

One of the multi storeys bear is has big signs saying reverse into space only.

I’m not sure what the justification is, visibility possibly? But how is it different on the way in to the way out? Hmm

JaneR0chester · 07/09/2018 23:49

I hate going in head first, I find it difficult to park straight in spaces which are generally quite tight anyway. Unless it's a row of at least 3 empty spaces, in which case there's room to easily pull in.

Also, I'm used to not reversing out of my drive (which I believe is against the Highway Code) so reverse parking is easy and natural for me.

seventhgonickname · 07/09/2018 23:49

I drive straight into spaces if I'm shopping situation I have access to the boot with my shopping.

DramaAlpaca · 07/09/2018 23:50

I always reverse into spaces, it's not hard & it's safer.

Fatted · 07/09/2018 23:51

It's definitely easier to reverse in.

The people who need to do 28 point turns would need that going forwards or backwards probably!

ErictheGuineaPig · 07/09/2018 23:52

You really don't see how it's different Marmite? There is nothing moving behind you when you reverse in to a space. No pedestrians and no cars moving around. Far safer.

Disquieted1 · 07/09/2018 23:52

Er...your rear wheels don't steer. You can reverse into much tighter spaces than you can drive into.

Pollydidntputthekettleon · 07/09/2018 23:52

Me and DH both reverse into every space when we park.
It's so much safer- especially in a busy car park.
I think that if you reverse out of a space, especially if you have cars either side blocking your view, you're relying on others to spot you and take action to avoid you. But when you drive out, it's so much easier to see and therefore you can take more responsibility for yourself and your safety and the safety of others rather than relying on others to have seen you

Lougle · 07/09/2018 23:52

I drive big cars though, and generally they don't have a tight enough turning circle to make driving into small parking spaces enjoyable. It can be done, but especially at work, it's often a bit of a shuffle to drive in, because I don't have the swing from the steering to guide the car as much as I do when I'm reversing. Whereas when I'm reversing, I can make big swings with the steering wheel to make small changes in the rear if I need to. That makes a huge difference with a big car in a small space.

AndreasFault · 07/09/2018 23:53

I have a big car, it's usually easier and quicker to reverse in.

AornisHades · 07/09/2018 23:53

It's easier to reverse in imo. You get to view the space before you try to get in and I usually do it in one reasonably quick go. If space is tight it might take more. Far safer to drive out forwards.

IfIWasABirdIdFlyIn2ACeilingFan · 07/09/2018 23:54

Reverse parking is far easier than driving straight into a parking space. If you’re driving in, unless it’s a really wide space and loads of space on the road to swing wide, you will have to drive in, then reverse back a bit to straighten up. It’s also far more dangerous to reverse out of a space than to drive out.

ISendNoComplimentsToYourMother · 07/09/2018 23:55

It’s far safer to reverse in than reverse out.

StripyHorse · 07/09/2018 23:55

Oh I had a lovely mental picture of huge cats sitting around in a multi-storey car park.

It's safer and quicker to drive out. Either way cars will be reversing in or out so you might as well reverse in. Unless you can get a bonus 'drive in drive out' space.

I never understand people who live on main roads driving into their driveway then having to reverse out onto the busy road. On a few occasions lately I have seen this happen where they feel the need to get their friend / relative to stop the traffic and direct them out.

Original poster
PookieDo · 07/09/2018 23:58

I finally do see why people do it! It’s been driving me mad
I get the safety part - I just reverse carefully and have a small car anyway.

Don’t think I will stop though. I’m too used to my maverick way of driving in. 28 point turns in my town you seem to have to add on to your journey time

OP posts:
Shenanagins · 07/09/2018 23:58

Much safer coming out if you’ve reversed in.