Backing into parking spots (1 Viewer)

[SHIZNITTTT]

If you drive a truck sometimes you have to back in due to the turning radius being so tight.    Also, with my back up camera and sensors, it is pretty fast.  If I tried to pull in front first into a tight space it would take a lot longer because I would have to back out once and realign my truck.   

 

[Terminalxylem]

Questions for those who HATE waiting moments for another driver to back in to a spot:  How do you feel about waiting for someone to back out of a spot?

Don't mind it. I'm far more likely to be pressed for time when arriving somewhere than leaving, and backing out is generally quicker than backing in.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I remember driving by strip motels where everyone seems to be backed in up to the building. This is in a state that does not require a front license plate. Wouldn't want anyone to know who is inside.

 

[Terminalxylem]

If I'm with my wife or her family, it's almost a guarantee I hear some comment about how there was a spot closer and how I should have driven around the lot longer looking for a better spot.

The worst are the stalkers who stop at the end of parking aisles, staking claim to the next vacated spot, even before anyone is visible near a vehicle.

I intentionally go to less convenient lot locations so I can park more quickly.

 

[nirad3]

Back-in Friday is a thing on the Jim Rome Show and has been for years....

 

[gianmarco]

The worst are the stalkers who stop at the end of parking aisles, staking claim to the next vacated spot, even before anyone is visible near a vehicle.

I intentionally go to less convenient lot locations so I can park more quickly.

Why are these the worst?  Sometimes there aren't any spots.  What are they supposed to do?  As long as they pull off to the side and allow other traffic to go, I don't see an issue with this at all. 

 

[SayWhat?]

It's easier to back into a parking spot if you drive a pickup truck.

If you drive a truck sometimes you have to back in due to the turning radius being so tight.    Also, with my back up camera and sensors, it is pretty fast.  If I tried to pull in front first into a tight space it would take a lot longer because I would have to back out once and realign my truck.   

These.  If you’ve ever driven a truck or large SUV, it’s almost almost always  easier to pull into a single parking spot in reverse due to the angle at which you can back into as compared to pulling forward.  

 

[Terminalxylem]

Why are these the worst?  Sometimes there aren't any spots.  What are they supposed to do?  As long as they pull off to the side and allow other traffic to go, I don't see an issue with this at all. 

Find parking elsewhere and walk. It doesn't have to be in the same lot.

Not only do you likely block traffic, you create an awkward situation in a parking deck if someone circles the whole deck but on the descent sees a prospective spot about to open for the aisle you've claimed.

 

[gianmarco]

Find parking elsewhere and walk. It doesn't have to be in the same lot.

Not only do you likely block traffic, you create an awkward situation in a parking deck if someone circles the whole deck but on the descent sees a prospective spot about to open for the aisle you've claimed.

There may not be another lot.  Or maybe they went to another lot and there weren't any spots so they came back to patiently wait for one to open up.

If done correctly, it doesn't block traffic.  And there's nothing awkward if someone else comes in later and thinks they can get a spot that opened up.  First come first served is a common practice for just about anything.  If a car has been waiting for a few minutes for a spot, they are entitled to it when it opens up. 

Strange take here.

 

[Scoresman]

If you're waiting that's fine.  But you need to move if passage is blocked for anyone at any point, and if someone who is circling beats you to a spot, it's rightfully theirs.  You don't get to claim anything just by sitting there waiting.  

 

[Jobber]

I have my kids trained to celebrate when we get a “pull-through”. I was really bummed none of them were with me yesterday when I got to make three “left on reds” in 5 minutes.

Same here. But we call it “douching it”, because sometimes when you are about to pull into a spot, some ##### pulls through and steals said spot from you.

I know, father of the year.

 

[Angry Beavers]

as others have said - I usually just pull in unless there is a good reason to back in. 

 

[CletiusMaximus]

The logic of back-in parking is pretty obvious - its safer and easier.  I understand that many drivers have difficulty backing into a parking spot, but if you know how to use mirrors, its often much easier to back into a spot and obviously safer pulling out rather than backing out blind.  I probably back in more than half the time I park, definitely always at home (in my garage) and work (tight spot).

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Some super smart street planners have decided they want to force drivers to back-in diagonally, this is definitely becoming a trend:

https://www.parking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/TPP-2012-05-Backing-In.pdf

We have a few of these in commercial districts near my house.  It's very confusing to some, but much easier and safer once they get used to it.

 

[encaitar]

Yeesh, are oil places that dangerous that that is a non-over the top policy? Pretty crazy.

Backing in is statistically proven to lower accidents.  Oil companies(really any company that employs 1000s of company vehicles) can get a huge insurance discount by enacting this policy.  Not really over the top at all.

 

[encaitar]

Neat board

 

[Monkian]

I don't know you personally, but I'm pretty sure I hate you.

There is little in life that brings me more joy than watching you have an aneurysm in my rear view because you couldn’t leave your house 5 minutes earlier. Well, not you personally, this place can I’ll afford to lose any more posters of your stature. Please, slow down out there.

 

[Tom Servo]

Backing in is statistically proven to lower accidents.  Oil companies(really any company that employs 1000s of company vehicles) can get a huge insurance discount by enacting this policy.  Not really over the top at all.

Backing accidents and those under 5 mph are the largest causes of CMVAs at my company. We’re required to back in and if someone’s with you, they have to get out and spot you. 

Too many people fail to realize that large trucks have HUGE blind spots. Even your average car has large blind spots.  Backing in is far safer than pulling in and it’s not even close. 

 

[Wrigley]

I back in almost exclusively, but I'm really a pro at it.....no wasted time

 

[Rustoleum]

The logic of back-in parking is pretty obvious - its safer and easier.  I understand that many drivers have difficulty backing into a parking spot, but if you know how to use mirrors, its often much easier to back into a spot and obviously safer pulling out rather than backing out blind.  I probably back in more than half the time I park, definitely always at home (in my garage) and work (tight spot).

If it was safer and easier, more people would be better at it, and they aren’t.

 

[In The Zone]

I'm like a few others and do both depending on the lot and the situation. Now, while at the house I prefer to be backed in. I live on a busy road a with 2 schools within a mile of my house it's a pain in the ### to back out of my driveway into the street at certain times of day. Especially with the way some of the vehicles fly up and down the road. I need to get @johnnycakes and his radar gun out here one day.

 

[Terminalxylem]

There may not be another lot.  Or maybe they went to another lot and there weren't any spots so they came back to patiently wait for one to open up.

If done correctly, it doesn't block traffic.  And there's nothing awkward if someone else comes in later and thinks they can get a spot that opened up.  First come first served is a common practice for just about anything.  If a car has been waiting for a few minutes for a spot, they are entitled to it when it opens up. 

Strange take here.

To borrow from this forum's SOP when disagreement occurs, I'll have to characterize your response as odd schtick as well.

My contention is the stalkers typically block traffic, and there is no guaranteed courtesy when someone decides to sit still waiting for a prospective spot. There's always a parking spot somewhere else.

 

[shuke]

No, it’s not. 

Yes it is.

No, it isn't.  Look one post above the one you quoted for an explanation.  If I'm behind you and you decide to back into a spot, I have to wait.  Explain to me when I would ever have to wait for you to back out of a spot?  You should only be doing so when there is no traffic.  So you're waiting for me to get by in that instance.   

 

[urbanhack]

I do both. Depends upon the lot and the situation. I dont think Ive ever backed in when others are waiting behind me. 

this is the correct answer.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

I’m a backer inner for the most part...but with the rear view camera and vehicle positioning lines, maybe takes 2-3 seconds longer to park.  Only time I won’t is when there is someone right behind me.  

 

[SWC]

i like to park far enough out that i can just pull through so it looks like i backed in and i get some steps on the way in so bam i get the benefit of looking like a cool back in guy i am not a fatloaf because i park in the middle of fn nowhere and walk all over gods creation and not many people can connect me to the pile of crap that is my car so hey another riddle solved by the old swcer take that to the bank bromigos 

 

[ChainsawU]

If I'm with my wife or her family, it's almost a guarantee I hear some comment about how there was a spot closer and how I should have driven around the lot longer looking for a better spot.

And then when you find said spot it's always, "See! That's the power of positive thinking!"

 

[Henry Ford]

When I worked for the oil companies, it was corporate policy that you backed into your spots.  The reason was because if something went wrong at the rig, you could hope in the car and go without doing a three point turn.  It was safer.  Which is funny, because when you went into the Rig Manager's trailer, he always made you take your boots off so you didn't track mud around.  When I pointed it out that you'd have to run in socks to your car, no one seemed to find it as funny/interesting as me.  Whatevs.  

But now I work at a company that really doesn't have a chance of exploding.  Or anything too crazy more so than any other company.  But I notice a lot of people backing into spots.  I know it's not a company policy so it just makes me wonder, why is this becoming a thing?  Backing into a spot seems much more troublesome in the real world.  

What are you and why?

I back in because the wheel stops at my office are so high they scrape my front bumper if I cross them with the front of my vehicle. 

 

[Apple Jack]

The turning radius on my accord is like a '76 pickup and the garage I park in at work is tight. It's easier to back in than to go in forward sometimes. I used to judge.

 

[[scooter]]

I rarely shop at Wal-Mart, but when I do, I back in. Too many dipwads with land yachts when you try to get out of the parking lot, not to mention the fact that Wal-Mart puts the parking spaces too close to each other.

 

[Wildcat]

It takes most people longer to back in than back out. And they do this for the purposes of saving 5 seconds when they leave?  I get the pull through and backing in for sporting events cases.   I do those myself. 

 

[pollardsvision]

Had a situation the other week where I may or may not have been an #####.

I pull into a gas station that has 5-6 parking spots (all empty), all in a straight line in front of the building. I pull in and see a car, stopped, blocking the typical flow of traffic. The car was stopped right in front of spots 2 and 3 (perpendicular to them). I had noticed this car while pulling in, and it had not moved in the 5-7 seconds between my first spotting it and arriving at decision time. 

I probably noticed some reverse lights, but don't really remember. I did a quick assessment, but wasn't trying to spend draw up plans to build the Great Wall of China here either. It's a small gas station, and I was going in to make 5 second transaction.

Also, this is a small gas station at a very busy intersection. Cars coming in and out of here really fast from the busy street (into the traffic flow she's currently blocking).

Anyway, based on the quick assessment, this left me with a few of options. 

A. Pull into spot 1, as it was the only readily available spot to me, given that there was a car sitting there blocking access to the other spots. 

B. Sit there (blocking all other cars from entering into the parking lot) and wait to figure out WTH this slow poke is doing.

C. Pull around this car, and attempt to park in spot 4 or 5. I considered this option, in my haste to get out of the way of entering cars that may be coming behind me. But that seemed like a potentially dangerous option. This car in front of me may be backing into a spot, but I don't know that for sure, so pulling around then immediately whipping in front of it to park didn't seem like a great idea. The area to pull around her would've also put me into the path of cars potentially pulling away from the gas pumps. 

So, I chose option A. I get out, rush in to get this transaction out of the way, and get on to a bunch of other errands. As I'm opening the door (another 5 seconds gone by and this damn car is still sitting there), a little old lady yells at me from her car "hey, can't you see I was getting ready to back into that spot?". I just said, "Mam, I'm sorry, I wasn't really sure what you were doing" and went in.

Now, I don't feel great about whatever role I may have played in making a little old lady walk an extra 10 feet to buy her lotto tickets, but I was put into an unfortunate choice. I either had to be inconsiderate to one driver blocking the flow of traffic, or be inconsiderate to potentially more drivers had I gone with B or C. 

 

[audiophile]

I do both. Depends upon the lot and the situation. I dont think Ive ever backed in when others are waiting behind me. 

This.  

Voted “back in” because I will always do it if no one is waiting - which is the majority of the time.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Had a situation the other week where I may or may not have been an #####.

I pull into a gas station that has 5-6 parking spots (all empty), all in a straight line in front of the building. I pull in and see a car, stopped, blocking the typical flow of traffic. The car was stopped right in front of spots 2 and 3 (perpendicular to them). I had noticed this car while pulling in, and it had not moved in the 5-7 seconds between my first spotting it and arriving at decision time. 

I probably noticed some reverse lights, but don't really remember. I did a quick assessment, but wasn't trying to spend draw up plans to build the Great Wall of China here either. It's a small gas station, and I was going in to make 5 second transaction.

Also, this is a small gas station at a very busy intersection. Cars coming in and out of here really fast from the busy street (into the traffic flow she's currently blocking).

Anyway, based on the quick assessment, this left me with a few of options. 

A. Pull into spot 1, as it was the only readily available spot to me, given that there was a car sitting there blocking access to the other spots. 

B. Sit there (blocking all other cars from entering into the parking lot) and wait to figure out WTH this slow poke is doing.

C. Pull around this car, and attempt to park in spot 4 or 5. I considered this option, in my haste to get out of the way of entering cars that may be coming behind me. But that seemed like a potentially dangerous option. This car in front of me may be backing into a spot, but I don't know that for sure, so pulling around then immediately whipping in front of it to park didn't seem like a great idea. The area to pull around her would've also put me into the path of cars potentially pulling away from the gas pumps. 

So, I chose option A. I get out, rush in to get this transaction out of the way, and get on to a bunch of other errands. As I'm opening the door (another 5 seconds gone by and this damn car is still sitting there), a little old lady yells at me from her car "hey, can't you see I was getting ready to back into that spot?". I just said, "Mam, I'm sorry, I wasn't really sure what you were doing" and went in.

Now, I don't feel great about whatever role I may have played in making a little old lady walk an extra 10 feet to buy her lotto tickets, but I was put into an unfortunate choice. I either had to be inconsiderate to one driver blocking the flow of traffic, or be inconsiderate to potentially more drivers had I gone with B or C. 

If she didn't have her reverse lights activated, and possibly a blinker, there is no way you could know her intent. Moreover, if she wanted to back in, the considerate move would be to take the last spot in the (small) row to avoid obstructing traffic.

ETA I just noticed the bolded. Even though she should've chosen another space, not cool on your part.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

I was surprised to see my company safety training LMS encourage backing in because it apparently is safer than backing out of a spot.  You are more likely to hit a person or a car due to the lack of visibility.  They didn't say anything about backup cameras.  And they completely disregard the fact that you are more susceptible to being a victim of road rage by the people who's time you waste backing in.

 

[Johnny Rock]

For those that complain of having to wait for those backing in...its just a trade off for waiting for someone to back out.

Much faster backing out. 

 

[Galileo]

Had a situation the other week where I may or may not have been an #####.

I pull into a gas station that has 5-6 parking spots (all empty), all in a straight line in front of the building. I pull in and see a car, stopped, blocking the typical flow of traffic. The car was stopped right in front of spots 2 and 3 (perpendicular to them). I had noticed this car while pulling in, and it had not moved in the 5-7 seconds between my first spotting it and arriving at decision time. 

I probably noticed some reverse lights, but don't really remember. I did a quick assessment, but wasn't trying to spend draw up plans to build the Great Wall of China here either. It's a small gas station, and I was going in to make 5 second transaction.

Also, this is a small gas station at a very busy intersection. Cars coming in and out of here really fast from the busy street (into the traffic flow she's currently blocking).

Anyway, based on the quick assessment, this left me with a few of options. 

A. Pull into spot 1, as it was the only readily available spot to me, given that there was a car sitting there blocking access to the other spots. 

B. Sit there (blocking all other cars from entering into the parking lot) and wait to figure out WTH this slow poke is doing.

C. Pull around this car, and attempt to park in spot 4 or 5. I considered this option, in my haste to get out of the way of entering cars that may be coming behind me. But that seemed like a potentially dangerous option. This car in front of me may be backing into a spot, but I don't know that for sure, so pulling around then immediately whipping in front of it to park didn't seem like a great idea. The area to pull around her would've also put me into the path of cars potentially pulling away from the gas pumps. 

So, I chose option A. I get out, rush in to get this transaction out of the way, and get on to a bunch of other errands. As I'm opening the door (another 5 seconds gone by and this damn car is still sitting there), a little old lady yells at me from her car "hey, can't you see I was getting ready to back into that spot?". I just said, "Mam, I'm sorry, I wasn't really sure what you were doing" and went in.

Now, I don't feel great about whatever role I may have played in making a little old lady walk an extra 10 feet to buy her lotto tickets, but I was put into an unfortunate choice. I either had to be inconsiderate to one driver blocking the flow of traffic, or be inconsiderate to potentially more drivers had I gone with B or C. 

This is you, isn't it?

 

[Johnny Rock]

I rarely shop at Wal-Mart, but when I do, I back in. Too many dipwads with land yachts when you try to get out of the parking lot, not to mention the fact that Wal-Mart puts the parking spaces too close to each other.

So now you’re facing the opposite direction on a one-way row too?

If the spots are narrow it’s much faster to pull in. 

 

[TheIronSheik]

Yeesh, are oil places that dangerous that that is a non-over the top policy? Pretty crazy.

Oil companies are filled with thousands and thousands of safety rules.  This way they can talk about how much they take safety seriously.  When I worked for Chevron, I was written up for walking down the stairs of our building without holding the handrail.  This was a corporate office.  Over the top policies abound.  Oil rigs are dangerous, no doubt.  But the oil companies go WAY above and beyond with their safety rules to try and show they are doing everything possible to keep people safe.  

Not trying to knock oil companies, by any means, because all corporations do things like this.  But if you went on a rig drilling floor and saw how dangerous things were, you'd wonder why more effort wasn't being put into making it safer rather than writing up corporate employees because they walked down a set of stairs 3 people wide.  

 

[TheIronSheik]

Yeesh, are oil places that dangerous that that is a non-over the top policy? Pretty crazy.

Oil companies are filled with thousands and thousands of safety rules.  This way they can talk about how much they take safety seriously.  When I worked for Chevron, I was written up for walking down the stairs of our building without holding the handrail.  This was a corporate office.  Over the top policies abound.  Oil rigs are dangerous, no doubt.  But the oil companies go WAY above and beyond with their safety rules to try and show they are doing everything possible to keep people safe.  

Not trying to knock oil companies, by any means, because all corporations do things like this.  But if you went on a rig drilling floor and saw how dangerous things were, you'd wonder why more effort wasn't being put into making it safer rather than writing up corporate employees because they walked down a set of stairs 3 people wide.  

 

[TheIronSheik]

Is there an echo in here? 

 

[Exit 1]

I think this is an easy way to see who in the FFA is poor.

Cars with back-up cameras and sensors make backing up into spots a breeze.

If you are totally against backing into spots and think it takes longer, you obviously have never experienced or driven cars with back-up cameras and sensors.  Please don't vote in this poll.

I hope your 1990 Hyundai Accent doesn't break down on the way to work.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I think this is an easy way to see who in the FFA is poor.

Cars with back-up cameras and sensors make backing up into spots a breeze.

If you are totally against backing into spots and think it takes longer, you obviously have never experienced or driven cars with back-up cameras and sensors.  Please don't vote in this poll.

I hope your 1990 Hyundai Accent doesn't break down on the way to work.

Are you new here?  "Poor" in the FFA means you make between $500k and $750k.

 

[eoMMan]

There may not be another lot.  Or maybe they went to another lot and there weren't any spots so they came back to patiently wait for one to open up.

If done correctly, it doesn't block traffic.  And there's nothing awkward if someone else comes in later and thinks they can get a spot that opened up.  First come first served is a common practice for just about anything.  If a car has been waiting for a few minutes for a spot, they are entitled to it when it opens up. 

Strange take here.

Although I agree with you when there are absolutely no other spots or lots, a lot people do this "waiting" thing simply because they are lazy and don't want to walk from a farther spot.  It's rude and inconsiderate to other drivers that are driving around looking for ANY spot (or simply trying to exit the parking lot).

 

[Ron Swanson]

Backing in is a widely taught corporate "safe driving" strategy.  It is simply based on the fact that more parking lot accidents occur when people are backing out of a spot than any other way. They feel drivers are less likely to hit other cars backing in than backing out.  It is taught by all the major commercial and corporate driving schools and was started by Smith Systems who I believe is the pioneer in that field.  Those orange cones you see in front of and in back of ATT trucks wherever they are parked whether at a job site or at a restaurant or wherever?  Same thing.  The theory is that if the driver has to go around the vehicle to retrieve the cones before they leave they will be more aware of their surroundings and less likely to hit things.

 

[Ketamine Dreams]

The back-in that always gets me is the person who will struggle and struggle to back into a narrow, single space with a vehicle on either side, which takes them tons of time - when they could easily pull right in and then later back out into a great big wide open parking lot from that narrow parking stall. 

 

[Terminalxylem]

Although I agree with you when there are absolutely no other spots or lots, a lot people do this "waiting" thing simply because they are lazy and don't want to walk from a farther spot.  It's rude and inconsiderate to other drivers that are driving around looking for ANY spot (or simply trying to exit the parking lot).

Most people who do this are lazy. 

 

[prosopis]

I back in 99% of the time. I have done this my whole life and I feel I can back in faster then pulling in. Sometimes I pretend I am mater.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Yeesh, are oil places that dangerous that that is a non-over the top policy? Pretty crazy.

I know Exxon Mobil really pushes the smith driving school. So even their distributor sales reps back in at factories or lube centers they visit. So i dont think it is exclusively a drive away from a fire thing. 

 

[Henry Ford]

Oil companies are filled with thousands and thousands of safety rules.  This way they can talk about how much they take safety seriously.  When I worked for Chevron, I was written up for walking down the stairs of our building without holding the handrail.  This was a corporate office.  Over the top policies abound.  Oil rigs are dangerous, no doubt.  But the oil companies go WAY above and beyond with their safety rules to try and show they are doing everything possible to keep people safe.  

Not trying to knock oil companies, by any means, because all corporations do things like this.  But if you went on a rig drilling floor and saw how dangerous things were, you'd wonder why more effort wasn't being put into making it safer rather than writing up corporate employees because they walked down a set of stairs 3 people wide.  

Can confirm all of this.