Did I have enough space to reverse

[YourJadeSquid]

Big white van was parked where the green dots are. I was parked where the red dots were.

I was trying to reverse but I couldn't. Van driver moved a little but then said I had enough room to get out. I honestly don't know if I'm just a bad driver or I needed that much space. He ended up moving and I got out.

No but it changes the angles and turning circle making it easier to get out if you reverse in.

Reverse park always. Reason being that if your car is hit while you are reversing out of a space the fault is deemed to be yours by insurance company. Happened to a friend and it wasn’t even her fault as the other guy was disqualified but because she was reversing out it wasn’t even her fault!

also better visibility. We just used to chuck car in headfirst but my husband had the scare of his life as a kid was scooting past and was tiny. He nearly hit him while reversing out. Parent got a big shock as kid wasn’t listening to them as they were telling him to stop.
now we always reverse park. It takes no extra time at all and saves time in long run when in rush in morning.

also you could probably reverse a bus out of there with all that room 😂

If you reverse oark it would be easier to get out as your moveable wheels are at the front and easier to manoeuvre out.

However I think that would be tight and the van driver should have been more respectful and moved quicker as that isnt a parked Bay Area. If you had a Smart Car it might be easier, but a larger car no.

Still a bit confused where the van was. The green dots suggest it was a triangle shaped van! Was he parked into the road?? If not then there’s a whole road width to reverse out? If he was parked into the road then I can see why the angle may have been tricky

Blimey OP I have a huge SUV and I could easily reverse out of those spaces, it's shocking that you couldn't! I'm not sure you should be driving at all if you can't get out of a parking space. And to say reversing is frightening...😯

I think you should get some driving lessons pronto

Why reverse park? You don’t understand the concept that the car has steering only at one end? That it’s it far far easier to reverse-park? Did you not get taught to reverse park and parallel park when you got your licence?

Is this a wind up? There is heaps of space to reverse out and the questions and lack of understanding to loads of people’s comments can’t be real?

Plenty of room.

So you'd rather reverse out on to a road with traffic coming from both directions than into a set space.

Unless you have a very long estate car you should have been fine - maybe a bit of back and forth needed.
I’m confused though - Are you saying if the van wasn’t there, that you would have reversed up over the kerb/ pavement on the other side of the road ?

Because it makes it easier and safer to drive out rather than reserve out. That is why some business car parks mandate reversing into spaces

Reversing into a space is safer, and as there is nothing either side of you at that point, your swing round is free of obstacles. If you drive into a space, when you leave you will then need to reverse in a straight line before swinging left or right, and therefore you need more space behind you.
It’s much the easier option whatever the size of your car, and if your car is big, it’s definitely a no brainer!

If you have reversing sensors then you shouldn’t have had any problems getting out at all

Unless you were driving a bus or a coach I would say that is definitely enough space, if reversing one way is a bit tight due to cars next to you, just reverse the other way and then turn round in a bigger space further down the road if it leaves you traveling in the opposite way you need to go.

yes definitely enough space to get out of any of those parking spots.
you saying you like “to swing in” suggests you don’t like maneuvering, but maneuvering is part of parking. Sorry op if you struggled to get out of any of those parking spots you are bad at parking.

Because you can get a tighter turn when going forwards, when reversing you cannot get a full lock on the wheel until you have already partly exited the space due to the cars parked either side. I still temember my dad telling me this all those years ago. He also said you never knew when you may need a quick getaway 😂

Yet another
"AIBU?"
Yes you are.
"But I'm not"

I'm still wondering which of the 3 marked parking spaces she was in! 🤣

By the "Swing In" I'd say diagonal across the three!

🙈🤣

I'm beginning to think there's some truth in this!

From a book I read for safety/lone women -

Reverse in - to allow for an unhindered exit later.
Have car keys in hand on approaching vehicle - for rapid access if needed.

It is however undeniable that it is always much easier and safer when parking if the bit of the car that steers is the last bit to enter the space, unless the spaces are angled specifically to encourage forwards parking. But, you don’t see many of those now as they are more dangerous for pedestrians. Entering a space as pictured in the original post forwards either means parking crooked, swinging all the way across the other side of the road to line up for entry or multiple reverse shuffle manoeuvres to straighten the car up - or, a combination of all three, unless you just abandon it. Likewise parallel parking by going in forwards either means bumping up on the kerb or taking up more space than necessary. Neither of which are traits of a good or considerate driver ;)

I'm a nervous car-parker and I'd have no trouble with this, there's masses of space there to get out. An average car park at your local aldi would have cars parked much closer behind you than that.
Have you thought about the pass plus driving lessons?

They're not 100% reliable. Colleague's DS reversed into something because the sensor had mud on it.

I pp about nearly being hit by a car where the driver was not looking. Many have pp have said that the problem when reversing is that you don't have a clear view of where you are going.

Would a sensor detect a small child or dog?

I parallel park in reverse - and I live in a terraced house with no driveway or garage so I do it a lot. It’s not a skill or confidence issue. I don’t think I’d need multiple straightening out attempts with the spaces shown there if I went in forwards. A bit of a swing, yes, but I’d wait until it was clear so not inconsiderate or unsafe.