Why do some people "back into" a parking space when they park? Do they think there is some advantage?

Question

When you park, you have to "back up" at some point...either when you enter the parking spot, or when you leave it. A few people "back up" when they enter the space (which seems to be more work when cars are on either sides of your space). Watching people do this, it is obviously taking more time and effort to back into the space because of having to avoid the cars on either side. Why not save time and effort.. and park like most everyone else?

Answer 1

Some safety experts will tell you that it is much safer to back in to a driveway or parking spot or pull all the way through so you can drive straight out because when you pull up to that spot, you can already see that the space is clear before you pull in. If you have to back out, there may be a kid or a dog or a sleeping homeless man, or worse yet a fully-conscious homeless man who is waiting to step out into your path when you back up so you can "hit" him and he can sue you. Don't laugh, my dear mom got into it with some cretin because he refused to walk past when she motioned him, and finally he did go, but the SOB grabbed her license plate AND the frame and bent them because he was mad that he missed his chance to stage an accident. I would have beat the crap out of him and tossed him in the bushes, but that's just me. Anyway, then when you go to leave, you can clearly see ahead of you instead of trying to back out into traffic or over something or someone you can't see. I'm with you, though, backing in to a parking spot is dangerous and annoys all the people who have to wait for you. If you're smart enough, you can try to pull through a parking spot and into the one on the other side so you never have to back up. As long as we're on the subject, if you are in a situation where you can't pull through, such as if there are those concrete logs in the parking spots or by pulling through you would be driving the wrong way, it is a good idea if you can to keep a tree or a light pole or a planter between your car and the parking spot opposite you, because there is always the chance that some jackhole senior citizen will bang your car because they pull in and don't stop in time. Those concrete logs in the parking spaces are worthless when it comes to stopping an 80 year old woman in a Coupe De Ville. And the biatch will not apologize, either, even though my kids were in my car and I was unlocking my door to get in. She'll stare at you with that typical senior citizen belligerence and her half-blind husband will make a worthless, empty apology on her behalf. But I digress. There is also the "bitchin" factor because any car naturally looks more "bitchin" backed in to a driveway. I don't know why, it's just a fact.

Answer 2

I think they should specify that they're for parents with YOUNG children. I have no problem with pregnant and new mother parking because if you have an infant seat and a diaper bag or you're 8 months pregnant then you should get closer parking. Those things are HEAVY. And it is tough to get an infant carrier out in a regular sized spot. And why should a young child have to spend longer in the cold/wet/snow than they have to? The purpose of society is to protect children and keep the species going. It's not a huge concern to me as my son isn't born yet and I live in South Korea where we have great public transportation, but I can still see the point. But if your kid is old enough to walk, then you and they can walk. Besides, if you're a healthy adult who doesn't have a problem walking the slightly longer distance then why be lazy? I'm young, healthy and in full control of my body (well, not right now as I'm 7 months pregnant) it's not going to be an harder for me to walk from the back of the lot than it is from the front. Frankly I think you come off looking lazy and petulant by these actions. You're an adult, you're not carrying a 20 pound infant seat and you're too lazy to walk a little bit farther? Really, it just seems to me like this is a silly thing to complain about... there are much bigger issues out there. And people are probably pissed off less by the content of you"question" and more by the kind of nasty tone.

Answer 3

When I started driving (back when we had a man with a red flag in front!) the advice from motoring organisations was that a car should preferably go forward when cold started, as backwards put more strain on, and wore the engine more.

Nowadays, with the advance in technology, this is probably unlikely. However, I do find it easier to drive front out of a parking space rather than reverse, since I, if not the engine, will be cold starting!

Answer 4

I used to drive for UPS and they always said when you pull into a parking lot make sure you truck is facing out of the parking lot. This way you have a fresh view of the surrounding objects. You have less chance of backing into another car or even worse a child.

*** And now time for me to vent ***
How ever in my experience I have found there are many MANY people that can not even effectively pull into a parking spot let alone back into one. Yeah you know who you are out there! With your big cars and SUVs that dont care if you open your door into mine or anybody else, or how you leave your shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot cause you are too damn lazy to push the damn thing 10 extra yards to the cart return or how close you park to me so that I need a fu@&ing can opener to get into my ride. AAaaaaahhhh therapy! Sorry I feel better now.

Answer 5

well I've tried both ways and i found that on harsh driving conditions or when there are a lot of cars trying to find a parking spot it is much better to know where you are going coming out of the parking space.

Answer 6

Most people find it easier to pull out of the parking spot, specially when you are surrounded by a lot of other vehicles and pedestrians, then it is to back out. You are decreasing your chances of hitting another car or a person.

Answer 7

I do it all the time. I never have any difficulty pulling backwards into a spot, and it's easier and SAFER to pull out, because you have a better view of what's going on, especially in a busy parking lot/structure. Don't let it bother you, just let it go.

Answer 8

Besides the obvious of it being easier for leaving...criminals (well the smarter ones) will back in so their license plate isn't as visible. (an observation given to me by a few police officers)

Answer 9

Because if back in it's easier too pull out because you can see much better cause you looking foward instead of looking back turning your head and left & right too see if cars are coming.

Answer 10

i try to find a space that I can pull forward so I do not have to back out either way.