To ask school to choose? (parking)

[Carpark1]

Aibu to ask my DD’s school to choose to alert that they must reverse park. There are no guidelines in the car park and I just feel like it’s mayhem. If we all reversed parked then it may be s bit more streamlined and time saving? Do you think they would find me weird for suggesting it ?😂😬

Oh, and my sister's instructor was very blatant in saying 'there's no bays at that test centre so book there and I'll teach you just the road reverses that they test on'.

I sacked off the instructor who said things like that to me. She's still nervous of all sorts of normal parts of driving. I was thrown to the lions from day 1, but at least they were thorough!

Not RTFT but I don't think you'd have much luck OP. I always reverse park (I find it easier than driving into a space) but there will be a lot of people who, like some have, say they "cant".

If you can't reverse park, you shouldn't be driving. Unless you are a learner of course! It was on my test 12 years ago. Where I was originally meant to take the test, there were bays for the driving test and 9 times out of 10 it was one of the maneuvers given because of it. I ended up having to take my test elsewhere so didn't end up doing it and did parallel parking instead.

My DH tells me he can't reverse. He really can't but he's still learning and it's something that I've told him he'll have to figure out. Reversing into a bay is quicker and safer. I'm so glad I learnt how to do that and parallel parking. It's got me into some of the smallest spots with a rather large car -- spots men haven't been able to get in making me feel smug.

But back to the OP, it would be nice if people reversed parked but you'd get a lot of people with all sorts of reasons why they can't.

Years ago now I knew someone who couldn’t turn right. Or wouldn’t turn right one or the other. Used to drive miles out of her way so as not to have to do it.

My mother used to have complicated routes to avoid roundabouts!

What about at pick up OP? Do the children come out of class and walk across to your car? Or do you collect from the classroom?

I passed my test in 2002. I also had an instructor who said “there are no bays at the test centre so I don’t need to teach you that”

Thankfully my mum took over my lessons soon after and actually taught me to drive not to pass the test!

There were no bays to park in on my test route so the local instructors don't teach it. I passed my test in 2015 and I learned to parallel park, reverse round a corner and do a three point turn.

I either drive into a space or (my personal favourite) park where there are two free spaces back to back so I can drive right through, and then just pull away when I'm leaving

because I like to assume they are all competent drivers....because they should be 🤔

But this thread goes to show that they're not. This is the real world and the safety of children is more important than your moral superiority to people who can't park to the standard that you'd like.

When I was taking my test, the test center was in a temporary location with limited space so no reverse parking in the test.

So my driving instructor just never taught me!

Although when I passed I realised how much safer and convenient is is and taught myself. I'm not great with stuff like that so if I can learn then anyone can!

I love reverse parking because it means I can get in my car and pull out straight away instead of fannying about.

I'm also ace at reversing down tiny country roads with hardly any pull in points. Well I have to be as I live on one and have a large car to carry my daughters wheelchair and I was sick of watching people reverse slowly into trees so it's easier if I do it.

I cannot understand how people drive but cannot do basic manoeuvres safely. It's actually quite worrying.

I can reverse park a car, large van, whatever. Ignore the rear view mirror and use side mirrors. I cringe at school when I see women with large 4x4`s having a melt down because they just cannot manoeuvre their vehicles. i guess there is nothing to stop you booking a few lessons with an instructor to learn this.

The thing that scares me about this thread is that all these incompetent drivers who can't reverse properly have to be trusted not to reverse into kids in the busy car park.

I'm not morally superior I never parallel park - the last time I did it was in my test 6 years ago. (I did try once again but it was a disaster and I ended up blocking the street for 5 minutes while I faffed about). The thing is not parallel parking just inconveniences me as I have to walk further. If I even find myself needing to parallel park I'll have to just suck it up and learn. Reverse parking is just safer especially in a school car park so I think people who "can't" have a responsibility to just learn.

Ds's large sn buggy is in the boot and we need a large space behind to open the boot and get it out so sometimes reverse parking isn't practical.

I carry a massive wheelchair around and there are no problems retrieving it following a reverse park, so cannot see how a buggy is worse.

I'm genuinely astonished how many people say they can't reverse park!

@Gazelda they get picked up from the yard

Either way, practising to reverse would be good for them!

That is very true

But just not next to my car!

I carry a massive wheelchair around and there are no problems retrieving it following a reverse park, so cannot see how a buggy is worse.

It isn't worse - but if you reverse into a space so your boot is close to a wall how do you get the wheelchair out?

I had to reverse in my parking test. And parallel park. Once I got my license I haven't done it since.

Probably because it wasn't in the test.

Back when i did mine, you got randomly asked to do 2 of 3:
Parallel park (essentially reverse parking)
Reverse round a corner
3 point turn in the road

So you were taught to do all of them, given they are all essential driving skills. Do they not do that any more?

I just leave enough space I can get into the boot. Drive a medium size car and never had any issue doing so!

• @Gazelda they get picked up from the yard*

So if they get picked up from the yard (by which I assume you're referring to the playground?) then surely some parents need to get buggies out of the boot for younger siblings?

It'd be difficult to have a 'reverse in' policy at drop off but not pick up

Unless I've misunderstood ...

Reverse parking and parallel parking requires good use of wing mirrors and observatory skills. Not being able to shows a distinct lack in these core skills.

I work in an industry with a massive safety focus and every company I have worked for or visited with work in the last 12 years has a reverse parking policy. It is demonstrably safer.

For that reason I think you are not being unreasonable to go and ask.

It isn't worse - but if you reverse into a space so your boot is close to a wall how do you get the wheelchair out?

Pulling forward once the manoeuvre is complete to allow access. It doesn't take a massive amount of room to retrieve a folded wheelchair/SN buggy. Have carried both and no issues with either.

If I park on forwards, I can reverse off safely, because the traffic is slowing for the lights, I go when someone lets me, and I have good visibility in both directions

Thats great for your situation. But your situation isn't the same across the land is it?

@Gazelda no because they arrive and they pop out of the car and walk 10 seconds over to the playground gate and the child walks over to them and they go to the car. I can honestly hand on heart say I have never seen a buggy in the yard. No one walks to school either.

How the heck do you folk park in the high street when shopping, what do you do when visiting a friend in their road.