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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
YellowMay · 26/03/2023 08:03

I only reverse in if I absolutely can’t drive in ie. it’s a tight spot. Otherwise driving in makes more sense to me. Can access boot and I don’t mind reversing out.

MarchMadness23 · 26/03/2023 08:04

L3ThirtySeven · 25/03/2023 23:38

I have wondered if parking head in is left over from the days of horses. You used to park your horse head in, because if you parked it head out, it might bite innocent passers by. So we went from coaches/wagons drawn by horses to cars and naturally just parked head first out of habit.

@L3ThirtySeven

Im old, I've been driving since before many on here were out of nappies, but sadly I never had a horse as a means of transport, I'm sure it's not that, but interesting 'thinking outside the box'. 😂😂

Roundtoedshoes · 26/03/2023 08:06

@WeWereInParis, if you are bad at reversing, consider a refresher course/practice.

GeneralMelch · 26/03/2023 08:06

Because you have to drive forward and to an angle of the parking space to reverse in, and if on a road or supermarket someone is up your arse and blocking you before you can get it into reverse. When you go in head first, then reverse out of a space, other drivers are more aware of your intention and will let generally you out. It's easier.

FannythePinkFlamingo · 26/03/2023 08:07

I reverse in everywhere except when I need to access the boot. So much easier to get the trolley to the car and load up.

HurryShadow · 26/03/2023 08:09

I'll always drive in forwards in a supermarket unless I know I'm only getting a couple of bits. If I've got a trolley then round here you can't leave it unattended to take your stuff to the boot. It's hilly here so if you don't keep hold of your trolley it'll end up in someone's car!

Otherwise, in other car parks if a space is on the right I'll drive in, if it's on the left I reverse in. Just find it easier!

WeWereInParis · 26/03/2023 08:10

Roundtoedshoes · 26/03/2023 08:06

@WeWereInParis, if you are bad at reversing, consider a refresher course/practice.

I'm not bad at reversing. I was explaining why people who are find it easier to reverse out than in, because I don't understand why that confuses people.

I reverse in when I don't need to access the boot, or if the space will definitely allow me to access the boot even if I've reversed in (eg a car park space with a walkway behind it).

Italiandreams · 26/03/2023 08:13

I also don’t understand how many of you manage to make sure the trolley doesn’t roll away while you are walking the bags of shopping to the boot of the car? That you may or may not be able to get into , depending on the consideration of others.

There is absolutely no way I could squeeze through with my collapsed pram, especially when we were at the carry cot stage.

Inconsiderate parking by others comes into play too. I remember having to ask a stranger to hold my baby so I could move the car as someone had parked so close to me ( I only have a fiesta). Not my favourite moment .

littlestrawberryhat · 26/03/2023 08:24

I always think the world is split into two types of people. Those uptight boring types that reverse into their drives and normal people!! Why bother!

WonderingWanda · 26/03/2023 08:28

I don't understand all the comments saying it's easier to reverse in than reverse out? It's reversing either way. In the supermarket I leave it boot facing out but in car parks it's usually down to how much space and if I can actually get into the space with all the pillars etc.

I have a shared drive which is at a right angle to the other drives and up a hill from the turning space, it is literally impossible to reverse onto because of the way my neighbours park and the way the front of the car swings out when you reverse.

blebbleb · 26/03/2023 08:29

I'm terrible at reverse parking.

Drilldrill · 26/03/2023 08:31

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.

But it’s the same of you drive in forwards 🤷🏼‍♀️

MangoBiscuit · 26/03/2023 08:33

If I need to get to the boot easily, or if it's busy when I arrive but I know it will be really quiet when I leave (work car park) drive in/reverse out.

I always reverse onto my driveway, but I have to because it's at a funny angle. To drive in forwards I would have to drive on round the corner, turn around, and come back.

Murdoch1949 · 26/03/2023 08:36

Other than at supermarkets, where storing your shopping is easier if the boot is by the walkway, it is safer to always reverse into parking spaces. If you are followed back to your car by some sleaze, being able to drive straight out without manoeuvring is safer. I always reverse into my own drive at home too, to put the boot near the door for loading/unloading.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 26/03/2023 08:39

Presumably those with rear engined cars e.g. Older Beetles do reverse in, in order to have easy access to the boot! 😄

Porridgeislife · 26/03/2023 08:40

I reverse in everywhere. Much easier than parking forward for me, but I do have a reversing camera.

I have a baby and a buggy too and have never had issues accessing the boot. The side door to get her back in is another story.

adagio · 26/03/2023 08:45

I’m on a relatively busy road, so driving past the drive to the back in is often impossible as the guy behind drives up your chuff so you have to go round the block to retry. This is despite indicating and being in a 20 zone. If anything it’s worse now it’s a 20 zone as when you do 20 you get even closer tailgaters.

Supermarkets as everyone else said I need boot access. Really they should make every row with a pavement down the middle then everyone could reverse in and still access the boot with the trolly. Wider spaces to fit the juggernaut 4x4’s would also be better. But then they would fit less cars in the space available so that will never happen.

Nolongera · 26/03/2023 08:47

It's easier to reverse a car out in to a big space than in to a small space.

I prefer to reverse in but our last car had sensors which made it easy, new car doesn't. I don't drive it much and I am not as good a driver as I used to be.

SinnerBoy · 26/03/2023 09:01

*WunWun" · Today 07:49

What's dangerous?! Honestly, some people shouldn't be allowed to drive.

I agree, from your silly, ill-imformed comments, it seems that you are at best, inconsiderate and possibly dangerous.

Fucking hell. Someone reversing off their own driveway is 'dangerous'

Yes. Yes it is. Please, refer to the highway code; a PP has already linked to the relevant rule, which states that you should not reverse from a minor to a major road.

Or from your drive to the road. It's because you can't see what's coming and could cause a crash. Notice I wrote crash and not accident.

Accidents are things not easily seen, or avoidable. It's easy to see that reversing into a main road is inherently dangerous.

breakfastbagel · 26/03/2023 09:04

The pram, the shopping, what side is the car seat on.

Don't find it difficult to reverse out.

Zola1 · 26/03/2023 09:06

Feel like 'desperately trying to reverse out' might be an exaggeration. Depending what I'm buying I might reverse in or drive in, but that's ok, you can decide how you park your own car.

Isuppose · 26/03/2023 09:08

Fucking hell. Someone reversing off their own driveway is 'dangerous'

A child was killed in our estate from someone reversing out.

My driving Instructir always said never to reverse out of housing estate drives. It is dangerous.

cadburyegg · 26/03/2023 09:10

I much prefer reversing in. It's easier imo.

But sometimes its hard to do this, if someone is tailgating you, if the road is busy because you have to drive past the space.

Also I echo what pp said about access to the boot, although there's still enough space. Fortunately I don't have to manoeuvre a pushchair anymore

OoooohMatron · 26/03/2023 09:12

littlestrawberryhat · 26/03/2023 08:24

I always think the world is split into two types of people. Those uptight boring types that reverse into their drives and normal people!! Why bother!

I'm sorry, did you actually just say that people who reverse into spaces are uptight and boring? Just checking because it's probably the most ridiculous comment I've read for a long time.

Bayleaf25 · 26/03/2023 09:12

If possible i will reverse in (ie busy town centre shopping).

I have to drive onto my driveway as it’s very small (car has to almost touch house) and usually have dog to get in/out of the boot (or shopping) so it’s the only way physically possible.

Obviously drive into supermarket spaces so that I can get shopping into boot.