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Original poster

to ask why people don’t reverse in?

430 replies

Divorcedalongtime · 25/03/2023 22:16

to parking spaces…
i know the safest is to reverse in and
drive out, so why do 95% of all cars drive in?
every time I go shopping I see cars desperately trying to get out of their parking bay with cars and walkers going past, whilst if they had reversed in they would get out so easily.

it makes zero sense.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
JassyRadlett · 25/03/2023 23:41

(I don't even have a drive and I get my groceries delivered so I have zero skin in this game, I just like facts...)

Rosula · 25/03/2023 23:42

every time I go shopping I see cars desperately trying to get out of their parking bay with cars and walkers going past, whilst if they had reversed in they would get out so easily.

Exactly the same number of cars and walkers go past whether you are driving out forwards or in reverse. You still have to wait for them either way. If people are desperately struggling to get out because of this, they will struggle whichever direction they are facing.

ArrrMeHearties · 25/03/2023 23:44

Because my spatial awareness is absolutely shite and I very rarely reverse into a space for fear of hitting the other car so 99% of the time I drive in

CallieQ · 25/03/2023 23:47

Divorcedalongtime · 25/03/2023 22:16

to parking spaces…
i know the safest is to reverse in and
drive out, so why do 95% of all cars drive in?
every time I go shopping I see cars desperately trying to get out of their parking bay with cars and walkers going past, whilst if they had reversed in they would get out so easily.

it makes zero sense.

Because sometimes it's more difficult to reverse in. Because it's easier to put your shopping in the boot. Why do you expect everyone to be like you

Astrabees · 25/03/2023 23:48

I always drive in in a multi storey as most people who drive in hold up all the cars behind them having about 3 goes to get in. I go to the very top and park away from all the other cars then so no one opens their door onto me.

Sassyfox · 25/03/2023 23:52

So they can get to their boots.

You can’t fit a trolley past 2 parked cars to get to your boot if you reverse in.

ChrisPPancake · 25/03/2023 23:52

Treeabovethefire · 25/03/2023 23:21

No. The simple solution is to do what you’re supposed to do, and not reverse out of spaces??

Show quote history

But that wasn't what you said. You said driveways across pavements should be illegal.

Are you saying you meant reversing over pavements should be illegal? In which case every drive would need to be either u-shaped or fitted with a turntable 🤷

ThereIbledit · 25/03/2023 23:53

I'm just glad that it's considered safer to reverse in and drive forwards out, because I'm utterly shit at driving forwards into a parking space 😂but I'm good at reverse parking.

On the rare occasion when I have to drive in forwards (sometimes the space means you really can't reverse in) I've utterly hated reversing back out. But it doesn't take much stretch of the imagination to think that lots of people probably find the opposites easier.

MajesticWhine · 25/03/2023 23:53

When I see people (men) reversing in to a space I often think they are showing off and making a big performance out of it, making it more difficult for no reason.

Offleyhoo · 25/03/2023 23:54

user1471517900 · 25/03/2023 22:17

In supermarkets it makes sense to drive straight in, so you can load the boot with shopping without having to squeeze the trolley past the car.

This!

SpecialControlGroup · 25/03/2023 23:55

Moveoverdarlin · 25/03/2023 23:38

It’s far easier to reverse out of a space than in to it. You just need to get out of the space and drive off. When you reverse in you need to make sure there is enough room for your passengers to get in and park exactly in the middle of the space and in the white lines. And obviously not hit cars either side or behind.

It really isn't easier at all.

BaroldBalonz · 25/03/2023 23:55

Treeabovethefire · 25/03/2023 22:23

I agree with you op. The amount of kids that get hit by cars reversing out of driveways across pavements in the morning is unreal. But god forbid drivers have to go through the awkwardness of unloading prams and shopping and feeling safer reversing out, even though they’re risking lives. I may be wrong (and I’m sure I’ll get immediately corrected if I am), but I thought it was the law to reverse into driveways and drive forwards out.

Completely with you on the reversing into driveways, but if you reverse in to a supermarket space and someone (like me with a massive car) parks right up to the line behind you, you won't be able to open your boot. Not 'awkward' more 'impossible'.

Cheerfulcharlie · 25/03/2023 23:57

If your car has a reversing camera you can sometimes see more to each side than you can if you drive out forwards.

Jonei · 26/03/2023 00:03

It's easier to load the boot. I don't struggle reversing out.

BaroldBalonz · 26/03/2023 00:03

Moveoverdarlin · 25/03/2023 23:38

It’s far easier to reverse out of a space than in to it. You just need to get out of the space and drive off. When you reverse in you need to make sure there is enough room for your passengers to get in and park exactly in the middle of the space and in the white lines. And obviously not hit cars either side or behind.

So what magic trickery happens to a parking space that when you drive into it means that you don't need park in the middle of the space and leave enough room for passengers to get in?

Do they get wider when you drive in forwards making you less likely to hit the cars either side?

Your answer makes no sense at all!

Xmasbaby11 · 26/03/2023 00:05

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Reversing out can be easier than reversing in, for me anyway. I do reverse in if it looks like reversing out is hard - a few car parks I know.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 26/03/2023 00:12

Because I find going in forwards easier.

And in a busy car park I agree with those who say that to reverse in, you have to go past the space before you can reverse which may well result in either someone driving up your arse stopping you from parking, or they may nick the space by going in forwards themselves!

Amethystanddiamonds · 26/03/2023 00:15

Shops because I need the boot.

At work because several people park too close and overhang the spaces. If I reverse in I often can't get out forward. I also need access to the boot because at least once a month someone parks so close to me I have to clamber into the car through it!

My drive and other places I tend to reverse park though.

jj21 · 26/03/2023 00:19

I prefer reverse parking in a space and have done this for years. But since DD recently became a wheelchair user, parking forwards is the only option as I need the space to get the wheelchair out of the boot. Even in a disabled bay, there is not always the length in the bay to leave space to access the boot and get out the wheelchair while remaining in the marked bay.

Thatboymum · 26/03/2023 00:21

I only don’t reverse in when some Wanker has followed rite up my arse not allowing me the space to reverse other than that I find it so much easier

PinkButtercups · 26/03/2023 00:21

We reverse in everywhere except supermarkets. DP always reversed in to supermarket bays making it impossible to get to the boot as our supermarket parent and child bays have bushes behind the spaces. DP in a bid to show me I was wrong and in-fact could reverse in and still access the boot found out the hard way when he landed in the bush.
It was very funny actually and now he drives nose first in them.

LadyLolaRuben · 26/03/2023 00:21

Because I don't like holding people up reversing in. I hate it happening to me

Theunamedcat · 26/03/2023 00:21

Because everyone rides my fucking bumper to the degree I have to INDICATE I'm turning into a space so they don't rear end me

LadyJ2023 · 26/03/2023 00:22

I always reversed until the children came along. Now I mostly cannot because cant get prams etc out of the boot

comfyshoes2022 · 26/03/2023 00:22

ColouringPencils · 25/03/2023 22:24

I don't think I have reversed into a bay since driving lessons, but that is because of my own lack of confidence. I know I am being stupid, but I still don't understand why it is easier to reverse into a bay which is confined by lines and other cars beside it, than to reverse out of it into the wider car park, which surely has more room for error. In supermarket car parks especially, I have never had difficulty reversing out of a space.

agree!