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.

I agree. Reversing into a space is much easier because you have more control of the steering. Reversing out in a long car is trickier because you don't have good visibility as you pull out.

Yeah I think I just cbf and the van was parked in a bad spot and I had to get out quickly.

Visibility of what? Hitting pedestrians or cars? Sorry just trying to imagine it.

I always reverse park. My DH just can’t do it and drives in; when I need to get the car out of garage and he was the last person using the car, it always takes me much longer to get out, since I have to reverse out almost fully from the tight garage before I then perform multiple manoeuvres in a narrow underground space.

Learning to reverse park should be an essential skill.

I think people drive too close to reverse park, so I just swing in. I parallel park on the right side of the road outside my house.

I can do it, just don't. Maybe I should, but I tend to be ok

It does change how a car moves though - it makes a difference if you are leading with the non-steering wheels. When you do you are able to be more precise and get into tighter spaces.

Why do you think we reverse parallel park into small spaces? Because you can't get into them forwards... Also why do forklifts steer with the rear wheels? Because it makes a difference when you need to be very accurate positioning the forks at the front.

Seriously? How long have you been driving? I can't be the only one who finds it frightening that you are asking this question

That appears to be a two lane road so plenty of room to reverse - or do you normally mount the pavement opposite when reversing?

Wot?
You indicate and stop and that stops traffic.

You check traffic is stopped and move off again to swing into a space.

If other traffic tailgating is a problem you have a due care and attention problem.

The space you are going into.

Image shows red (my car with me in it), blue (other cars and people)

I need to have started to pull out before I can see in my mirrors or by looking that it is clear to do so.

How the hell do you not know this stuff?

(My driving is much better than my artistic talents)

Because you have passed your test, read the Highway Code and remember rules 200, 201, 202 and 203 ?

fucking terrifying isn't it?!

I nearly got hit by a couple in a car. The driver was relying on her sensors instead of looking at where the car was going.

If your car is dirty, the sensors might not work.

JFC.

Yup

Both. When you have driven into a space, your starting point for getting out is that you have almost a whole car length before your wing mirrors or your windscreen will show you what is perpendicular to you. Until that point, your wing mirrors really only show you what is immediately to your left and right (the other car doors, usually) and possibly anything that walks into and out of the corner of your car. You can't see things approaching from a distance because the adjacent cars block your vision. So you edge out, keeping an eye on your rear view mirror. Then, as you get half a car's length back, you start to be able to use the rear passenger windows. Finally, as you get 3/4 of a car's length back, you start to be able to use the front windows, then the windscreen.

When you reverse in, you start from the position of being on the main 'road' of the car park. You have all-around visibility. You can reverse cautiously, and position carefully. Your nose of the car is the bit that swings the most when you steer, and that is the last bit that goes into the space, which is the tightest part of the manoeuvre because it's the part where you are restricted by the presence of other cars. If you need to make fine adjustment you can, because your nose is free with space around it. On the way out, you can use your windscreen to see the main 'road' of the car park, creeping out if necessary. Your nose is the first thing that's free, and your steering wheels are at the front of the car. Where your nose goes, your rear will follow.

You should always reverse into a parking space and drive out if you can. It's much safer as you have more visibility. Safer for pedestrians too. Why does reversing into a parking space 'cause issues' as well?

Because when you got people behind you theu don't leave enough space despite reversing hazards on, plus it's a corner

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TLru7jPEBl8

This video helps.

You're definitely not. It scares the living daylights out of me that people like this are in charge of a vehicle. I tell my son to assume that everyone else on the road doesn't have a clue what they're doing.

Definitely not the only one!

This thread is certainly proving the need for repeated driving tests at certain intervals!

Reversing is frightening lol

For the van driver illegally parked. Yes

Some spaces and situations lend themselves to reverse park, others don’t. The van was in a space not marked out as a parking spot for a reason and it looks to me like it would have been tricky though not impossible to get
out.

I think people are quick to get uppity nowadays. If I see a car reversing out on a car park, I simply let them… if the manoeuvre was already in progress as I approached I don’t know why I wouldn’t?