Why Do People Choose to Reverse Park into a Carpark?

tomb11 on 11/11/2022 - 16:22

I've never understood the reasons why people choose to reverse park. As the title suggests, I want to understand the reasons why people naturally reverse park as their go-to instead of forward parking.

Common argument I hear is that it's easier/faster to get out. But, doesn't it just make it slower/harder to park the car?

Another one is that it reduces the chances of reversing into someone when leaving (where I assume a lot of accidents occur), but again, isn't there still that risk when completing the initial park?

What am I missing?

Poll Options

  • 1427
    To make it easier/faster to leave
  • 59
    To reduce my chances of reversing into someone
  • 96
    Because I like to reverse park. Simple.
  • 40
    Other reason - comment
  • 146
    I always forward park
Automotive

Comments

  • jtc13 on 11/11/2022 - 22:42

    Was walking along the other day near a car park and saw someone reverse park next to another parked car despite their being heaps of free spaces in the same row… They backed straight into the side of the parked car and I thought…. Yep that is why i only do that if i absolutely have to… Then laughed myself silly.

  • Yukari Yakumo on 11/11/2022 - 22:43
    +2

    Reverse parker here. I only reverse park into a parking space within a standard 90 degree carpark.

    When you enter a parking space, you already know that the space is empty. There is no car inside that space. Ergo, you do not need full visibility of that parking space, just enter slowly and be aware of any approaching pedestrians. If there is a shopping trolley in the parking space, you don't need more than 27 brain cells to notice it, and furthermore it is usually a non-moving object - it is a "non-threat" to your life, your property, and your wallet.

    When you drive forwards, you have significantly more visibility compared to when you drive in reverse; in my particular car, the only blind spots I have driving forwards are my A pillars, whereas when reversing, I cannot see through… my entire car, and any human occupants sitting in the back seat.

    When you leave a parking space, there are many more potential hazards you need to be aware of, and many more things you need to quickly react to, the most common example being passing cars that are driving faster than they should. Why would you ever want to have better visibility entering than leaving, compared to better visibility leaving than entering?

  • mitt on 11/11/2022 - 22:43

    My bull bar is on the front & I want it pointing at other "drivers" passing by.

    Also its safer pulling out/clearer vision of what is going on around me.

  • schmuppet on 11/11/2022 - 22:53
    +1

    All these reasons plus so I don't scrape my front lip on the kerb.

  • peekabooo on 11/11/2022 - 22:57

    Easier to park in tight spaces. If it's in between two cars the visibility is much better with side mirrors. And for me it's a faster park too as I'm worried I might scratch the car if I park the other way.

  • THICKnSLOW on 11/11/2022 - 23:05
    +2

    Have you ever seen Batman reverse out of his batcave?

  • bengal tiger on 11/11/2022 - 23:19

    Fun fact - anyone who lives or works near an active volcano are told to always reverse park. If you ever hear volcano sirens and an eruption is imminent then you want to quickly drive away ASAP and you don't want to waste time reversing out when your life is potentially in danger.

    • simplystu on 11/11/2022 - 23:37
      -2

      Argh ok …
      Must be many volcano's with AU shopping areas then !!!

      Your post = not relevent to OP's post, nor majority that live in AU

      • bengal tiger on 11/11/2022 - 23:40

        I think you missed the statement of "fun fact" (whoosh).

      • Tleyx on 14/11/2022 - 10:23

        Would also be beneficial if a tsunami warning happened

  • Melong on 11/11/2022 - 23:30
    +1

    Reverse park is quicker and easier, then faster to get out, going in front first is amateur hour unless you have double banked parks with two straight clear parks! There are some special exceptions.

  • try2bhelpful on 11/11/2022 - 23:35

    We reverse park into our garage so we can see the cars as we pull out.

    However, you’ve also missed the two empty parking spaces so you can pull straight through option. This works well in car parks.

  • p1 ama on 11/11/2022 - 23:49
    +1

    Another one is that it reduces the chances of reversing into someone when leaving (where I assume a lot of accidents occur), but again, isn't there still that risk when completing the initial park?

    No, because when you are reversing into a park, you are backing up into a space between two cars where nobody can just come roaring out of nowhere at 40 km/h and hit you.

    Most accidents in carparks happen when people are reversing out of a spot, whether it's because the person reversing isn't paying attention, whether people in the carpark aren't paying attention to people reversing, or whether because there are complete lunatics who speed around unsafely in a carpark.

    I generally only forward park whenever I know I'll be putting large items in the boot, otherwise, my preference is to reverse park - I genuinely dislike reversing out of a parking spot, it's probably the poorest visibility action we do on a regular basis when driving.

  • greatlamp on 12/11/2022 - 00:09

    You have full view of the road when reversing in, and when driving out. It's clearly safer. / end

  • forkus on 12/11/2022 - 00:41

    Mandatory at work so it just becomes my default parking style

  • a-friend on 12/11/2022 - 00:59

    Two incidents in last five years. Both involved reversing out from the carpark bay. Both cars reversing, I stopped and they didn't…..bam..! Too hard to convince them and insurance company that I stopped and they didn't. Done with forward parking now. Only reverse parking for me. Good luck 👍

    • Miss B on 12/11/2022 - 13:49

      I had one do that to me and saw one do it to someone else. In both cases the driver of the car outside the spot stopped and was repeatedly honking expecting they'd stop and they just kept going. Tip for those reversing out of spots, if you hear repeated honking, check to make sure you're not about to hit anyone 🤦‍♀️

      • a-friend on 14/11/2022 - 01:19

        I was honking, still they didn't stop..

  • Swaggy on 12/11/2022 - 01:09

    Cos the car doesn't have 360 cams, only reverse cams

  • altomic on 12/11/2022 - 01:20
    +1

    because my children went to private school and I am better than you.

  • megadeth on 12/11/2022 - 01:37

    Workplace requires us to reverse park, due to your ‘choice 1’; now it’s become a second nature.

  • Hahuh on 12/11/2022 - 01:44
    +1

    Also for bigger cars, it prevents you from doing a 10 point turn due to a larger turn circle

  • mawe on 12/11/2022 - 01:45
    +1

    When you are reverse parking you literally control the traffic… no one gets past… you can take as long as you want and make as many attempts as you like to get it right or as many as it takes to annoy all the people who are forced to wait for you to do so. When exiting a spot you do not control the traffic and the other drivers do not have to allow you to exit your parking spot - you don't control the situation. So when exiting you want it to be as quick and easy as possible to take advantage of gaps in the traffic - particularly as the traffic is inevitably sitting still most of the time due to some other driver taking multiple attempts to try and reverse park their own Camry.

  • Serapis on 12/11/2022 - 01:50
    +1

    Reversing into a stationary spot has far less risk than reversing into potential oncoming traffic and foot traffic. It's about thinking ahead.

    Honestly not that hard reversing into a spot either.

  • berry580 on 12/11/2022 - 02:15
    +1

    I find it more difficult to park front first, amongst other advantages also highlighted by countless others

  • kevkay on 12/11/2022 - 05:31
    +1

    i reverse park 100% of the time that i suck at front parking.

  • mrvaluepack on 12/11/2022 - 06:48
    +5

    Most driving courses reccomend that because when you reverse park, you are reversing into a predominantly static (lower risk) environment and exiting forward facing into a dynamic (higher risk) environment.

  • No and then on 12/11/2022 - 07:26

    Reverse parking is just easier. And we're not in the US where some states don't have front plates, thus disallowing reverse park.

  • MrFrugalSpend on 12/11/2022 - 07:34

    It is safer. You can see and know the car park is free before reversing.
    Same cannot be said for reversing out into an aisle.
    My workplace mandates we reverse park in

  • Shame on 12/11/2022 - 07:40
    +1

    I do it to annoy the OCD people who think there is a correct way to park

  • bobbieb on 12/11/2022 - 07:53

    For me it's a no brainier… reversing into a spot, I have a high degree of control.

    • I choose if conditions are good to attempt a reverse park. eg. not too heavy traffic, is it a tight spot to get into.
    • I largely have the law/road rules in my favor. I signal, stop, anyone following is expected to stop to allow me to park.

    Reversing out is the exact opposite.

    • Once I've parked, I have little control over what conditions will be like when I come back to leave.
    • I'm at the bottom of the road-rule pecking order. I give way to everyone. If I collide with anyone - no matter how stupid they behave, the law is likely to rule in their favor.
    • I'm potentially at the mercy of others being courteous and letting me out… something that is increasingly rare.
  • spaceflight on 12/11/2022 - 08:04
    +1

    It’s safer. When you reverse into a space you are going into a designated space with no vehicle and pedestrian traffic. By reverse parking, you avoid backing out blindly into oncoming traffic or into the path of pedestrians. You can see your surroundings more clearly.

    Data shows it takes about 90 seconds for an average 5-year old car’s engine to warm up and reach its thermal efficiency. According to IAM, reversing out of a parking bay while the engine is cold takes up between 20-25 times more fuel than when it is warm. Apparently driving away forwards will help you save fuel. Could be related to the usually lower gear ratio of the reverse gear compared to the first gear.

  • kaleidoscope on 12/11/2022 - 08:31
    +3

    Not sure about you. But for me reverse parking is really easier compare to forward parking in a tight spot and ofcourse, leaving is heaps easier as well.

  • Brianqpr on 12/11/2022 - 08:34

    Quite simply you can see more when parking than when leaving, therefore I reverse in while I have a better view making it easier when I leave.

    Especially useful in this age of giant Utes speeding thru car parks.

  • Robz on 12/11/2022 - 08:45
    -2

    Living in SA it is ILLEGAL to reverse park into a car park space in the street if it is a space @ 90 degrees. i always reverse park in my driveway

    • Mike88 on 12/11/2022 - 10:11
      +2

      Don't live in SA but this says otherwise.
      https://www.mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/the-drivers-handb…

      "If a sign or markings indicate 90° parking, you may park with your front or rear to the kerb (Example 50) unless a sign indicates otherwise."

      It's only angles other than 90° that you can't reverse into.

  • furyou on 12/11/2022 - 08:52
    -1

    Sometimes conditions make one or the other better.

    Some people have no rational thought when driving. They are just in auto mode. "I've been taught to reverse into a space" so that's what they do, conditions be damned. Even is there are signs to say front or rear to kerb.

    They say it's faster to get out. But ignore they took 10x the time to get in because it's often the worse drivers doing this. They also ignore they are much more likely to crash into a car reversing in a small space than reversing out into the open Lane.

    • xylarr on 12/11/2022 - 09:38
      +1

      About the only time I front park is when I know I need access for large items into the boot.

  • joshash on 12/11/2022 - 09:14
    +7

    Leviticus Chapter 5 covers reverse parking.

    The tradition of reverse parking originates from an era when it was etiquette to avoid having the rear end of a beast facing/defecating near passers-by.

    By having the front of the horse/animal facing forwards ensures the rear end of a horse and associated defecations are positioned away from passers-by and pedestrians.

    This is basic manners.

    Having to walk past the rear end of vehicles is still massively triggering to this day.

  • NotAnAudiophile on 12/11/2022 - 09:16
    +1

    Im Asian. Where I’m originally from the parking spaces are a lot tighter than what we have here, so we were always taught to reverse park. It’s safe, precise and you can get out easily.

  • 2esc on 12/11/2022 - 09:42
    +1

    I do both depends on each situation. I dont reverse path if im going to hold up other people though. If its a area i know the traffic can get busy but there is a good break in traffic i will reverse park. I personally try to park away from other cars as i like room to get groceries etc into the car and so idiots dont open their doors carelessly. Reverse parking is getting a bit more common due to number of higher vehicles suvs, vans etc if the park beside you it can be hard to see while reversing out.

    In some work places its actually a safety requirement to reverse park so at end of shift not everyone is reversing out. Also in case of disaster and a evacuation occurs people are not rushing while reversing.

    Some regional towns in Australia also have reverse angle parking in the main street of town. It actually makes a lot of sense from flow of traffic point of view and safety. But its not common as it takes more skill to reverse park than to reverse out of a parking spot.

    Having said that reverse angle parking is a lot easier than normal reverse parking.

  • Frangipani on 12/11/2022 - 09:47
    -4

    I’m hearing you and always wonder the same thing.
    I wait patiently whilst they do their thing and I just shake my head.

  • Flyingpotato on 12/11/2022 - 09:59
    +2

    Car parks are full of impatient idiots. It's a lot safer to reverse in, allowing you to drive out when you leave. I have had too many close calls in car parks (looking at you Chadstone) where people are so focused on looking for spots that they don't look at the cars around them or drive up too close and don't give space for people to reverse out of their spot. There can also be limited visibility when leaving the spot due to overly long American SUVs making its hard to see if there is any oncoming traffic.

    If you (generic you) can't reverse park easily, you should practice - Saturday or Sunday mornings most shopping centre car parks are quiet and it's a good opportunity to practice without too many cars around. Otherwise if waiting for other people to park upsets you, you should take a deep breath and learn to go with the flow in life/work on your personal stress levels.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/11/2022 - 10:26

      Ugh I hate that… "OH!!! There's someone coming out! I'll stop RIGHT HERE and not back up AT ALL so they have no room to reverse out, then I'll get agro with them for not reversing into me so I can have their park." (Nearly always a woman, or "men" who look like they take gender studies and attend extinction rebellion meetings.)

      Even worse are the people who KNOW they can only reverse out comfortably in one arc, in one direction, but try the other direction anyway getting everyone stuck, to please the idiot who stopped too close.

      I just drive back in, turn the engine off, tilt my head back against the seat and close my eyes… so they know they're not getting the park. The second they pass I reverse out - so they can still me. Hopefully the reason why sinks in once they throwing their hands around and glaring in the rear view mirror at me, but I doubt it.

  • Munka on 12/11/2022 - 10:03

    For me my car is extra wide at

    77.3 in (1,964 mm) (ex. mirrors) 86.2 in (2,189 mm) (inc. mirrors).

    This generally leaves me with 50mm either side on a normal car spot. It is also 5m long and typically with my rear bang on the line the nose just sticks out the white lines.

    It's also a fairly expensive car and I don't want it doored by another driver.

    So I need to be mm accurate in my parking, the only way to do this is to line up the white lines in the mirrors and side cameras.

    It also reduces the chance of me crashing on the way out. And you'd almost always be at fault reversing out of a park.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/11/2022 - 10:15
    -2

    Because reversing is a RARE SKILL. It shouldn't be, but it is. And the way to keep a skill sharp is to use it. Reversing out is not a skill, because it's reversing into mostly open space. Yet many of forward-only people can't do that EITHER.

    Common argument I hear is that it's easier/faster to get out. But, doesn't it just make it slower/harder to park the car?

    Nope. I reverse in just as easily as front-first.

    Another one is that it reduces the chances of reversing into someone when leaving (where I assume a lot of accidents occur), but again, isn't there still that risk when completing the initial park?

    Nope. Practice a skill and it grows. That's why someone people are trapeze artists and others pay to watch them with their mouth open.

    I don't reverse into supermarket car parks that often, I do it more when for example there would be a concrete pad next the drivers door if I parked front-first. Why? Because I like to find parks where people can't slam their open doors into my car, where trolleys won't get blown into it by the wind, etc. So if no wide parks are available, my next choice is one with a concrete pad or bollard on one side (like underground car parks, or shopping trolley bays). That means I've halved the "danger" (no car on that side). But with a concrete pad or trolley bay, I then have to park as close to it as possible so the car next to mine has heaps of door room. With a trolley bay it's obviously impossible without climbing over to get out the passenger side. And if I do that when just a concrete pad is on the driver side, it's more difficult to get in/out of the car. So sometimes I reverse in.

    I have it down to an art… where to position mirrors (e.g. starting at the usual position, tilted in so I can see the car body compared to the white line, concrete, etc… then downward at the end so I can see the edge of the concrete, white line, or gutter when reverse parking on roads compared to the car tyre). Reversing regularly means I can confidently judge how close to an edge I am. I now easily breeze in/out in either direction faster and without stress, while other people struggle to just to park front first.

    The overall reason began from when I was about 10. I was in the back seat when my grandmother was reversing out, driving back in, reversing out, driving back in, at least a dozen times at a Westfield. She had heaps of room but lost more confidence every time, eventually hitting another car thanks to BOTH their lack of skill.

    Use a skill or lose the skill.

    Also people who tack multiple car loans onto their 25 year mortgage every few years because they "need" a new toy to impress other people who don't care anyway… means many cars have reversing cameras now.

  • Triceratops on 12/11/2022 - 10:20

    When I am reversing in I have full view of the traffic in the carpark. If I'm reversing out the view is more restricted. Also, reversing in might add less than 10 seconds to the parking time if you do it regularly and know how to back your car.

  • smartazz104 on 12/11/2022 - 10:41

    You need to stop and think for a minute if you consider reversing into a parking space to be the same as reversing out.

  • cerealJay on 12/11/2022 - 10:48

    Should be obvious. Back wheels don't turn with steering wheel,… edit, I see now you mean the other kind of parking, where people reverse in so that leaving the space is easier. I thought you meant reverse parallel parking.

  • Cletus vandamme on 12/11/2022 - 11:02

    Force yourself to reverse park and it's so much easier than forward and better. You have more visibility getting out, easier to get a larger car into any spot, much easier staying middle of the lines, if you drive a small car park the front towards the road side so you can see easier. The only down side is Muppets who drive to far into the bay behind you so you can't open your boot.

  • playswithfire on 12/11/2022 - 11:06

    If my car is going to be in between two large 4wd's I'll reverse in, as I won't be able to see if there are cars coming in either direction when I go to reverse out.

  • Ughhh on 12/11/2022 - 11:06

    I usually reverse in unless there's a car behind me who probably will take the spot if I drive pass it. Makes leaving a lot easier. The more you reverse in, the easier it'll be - no cameras, just sensors.

    It's painful to watch some people struggle to reverse in. Saw one scrape the pillar.

  • sAmiZZle on 12/11/2022 - 11:21

    Reverse parking avoids any possibility of scraping your front bumper/splitter, etc on the kerb. I find kerb heights are not always made to a standard height and it's just a matter of when, not if, you will hit one. The rear bumper generally will have more clearance and it's unlikely it will make contact/scrape.

  • Bearlion on 12/11/2022 - 11:46

    Reverse parking is easier than forward parking because your wheels turn at the front. It's actually easier to get it right in terms of spacing on both sides, the tighter the easier too relatively speaking.

    Only reason I'd go in head first is if it made loading my boot easier.

  • adn on 12/11/2022 - 11:54

    I find it easier to reverse in and really easy to pull forward when exiting.

  • murrystores on 12/11/2022 - 12:01

    I believe that in Victoria it's illegal to reverse out of your driveway, so other people just carry it on with everything else when parking?
    Dunno

    • capslock janitor on 12/11/2022 - 13:12

      IS THAT SOME WEIRD RULE
      ?
      AND THE REVERSE OF THIS
      https://youtu.be/BZjd8zREhhY?t=25

    • Miss B on 12/11/2022 - 13:59

      It's legal to reverse out of your driveway in Victoria. I didn't realise anyone thought it was illegal, but it appears you're not alone thinking that.

  • chongsu on 12/11/2022 - 12:06

    I find I'm more accurate in getting inside the lines and straight with reverse parking than I am forward parking.

    Always feel like there's a risk of scratching cars on either side if you haven't given yourself a wide enough berth/angle to drive in forward.

  • lunartemis on 12/11/2022 - 12:36

    When you reverse, you only need to worry about pedestrians walking behind (or cars in the n3xt car parks opening the doors) but when you reverse out, you have to worry about all of the above plus other cars coming from 3 directions (left, right and opposite parking spot if it applies, and trollies. Little kids can jump out in front of reversing cars without much warning.

  • Dreamcast on 12/11/2022 - 12:39
    +2

    Wait, hold up, something ain't right. People think forward parking is easier? Hell no. Reverse parking is easier to get in and out.

    On top of that, most forward parkers have their car on an angle and make it difficult for some to get in and out of their car.

    I have never parked my car forward at a shopping centre and never will. There is literally only one advantage of forward parking and that is being able to get items out of a trolley into your car without having to navigate the trolley to the boot.

    I find forward parkers never return their trolley, where reverse parkers do :p

    • serpserpserp on 12/11/2022 - 13:37
      +1

      I find the opposite with reverse parkers because they have usually scraped every car on their way to getting the trolley to their boot. Then it is too hard basket to get it out again so they leave it at the back of the park. Forward parkers have to put the trolley back unless they want to reverse into it.

  • cheekymonkey97 on 12/11/2022 - 13:01

    So I can flex on plebs. I reverse park faster than most people who forward park lol

  • capslock janitor on 12/11/2022 - 13:08

    MUM IS A PRO FORWARD-PARKER, PARKING IN GENERAL SHE BEATS ME

    I WAS TAUGHT TO REVERSE-PARKING DURING LESSONS SO THAT'S WHAT STUCK WITH ME :\

    • serpserpserp on 12/11/2022 - 13:35
      +2

      Username checks out

      • capslock janitor on 12/11/2022 - 14:37

        OH ALSO TO CLARIFY MY ABOVE COMMENT —

        I WAS REFERRING TO REVERSE "PARALLEL PARKING" OOPS

        • mapax on 12/11/2022 - 14:39
          +1

          You’re not very good at your job, fix that capslock already…

          • capslock janitor on 12/11/2022 - 14:41

            @mapax: SHE'S VERY SKILLFUL
            GREAT AT FORWARD PARALLEL PARKING/HEAD FIRST BETWEEN 2 CARS
            AND LINES IT UP NICE TO THE KERB

  • serpserpserp on 12/11/2022 - 13:35

    The bit I don't like is that most people who reverse park in busy carparks are actually terrible at doing it. That take about 20 moves to get into the park.

  • ozwolf on 12/11/2022 - 13:41

    Much easier when leaving

  • Stewardo on 12/11/2022 - 13:46

    In residential basement carparks if the owner has an over bonnet storage unit on legs, and the driver reverses up to the unit they always park the SUV far enough away from the box so they can get tailgate open, the car is then parked 1mtr+ out of the car space and makes it very hard for other cars to turn up the ramp.

    • Hangryuman on 12/11/2022 - 16:21

      sounds like a very specific case where it would be appropriate to notify the 1mtr+ sticker-outer that they are parked over common property and they can be penalised and/or evicted if they continue

      NSW standard model by-law - '4 Obstruction of common property
      An owner or occupier of a lot must not obstruct lawful use of common property by any person except on a temporary and non-recurring basis.'

      which we have in our strata 'By-Law 3 - Obstruction of Common Property
      An owner or occupier of a lot must not obstruct lawful use of common property by any person.'

      so contact strata and ask them to notify the car owner of the breach, and to desist forthwith or face the consequences.

      • Stewardo on 12/11/2022 - 16:33

        Is very common in Sydney residential carparks

  • jomandybri on 12/11/2022 - 13:53

    I used to work for a Woolies-owned company. The area manager enforced reverse parking as a workplace policy as a previous staff member once reversed after a long shift and hit & seriously injured (or killed, I can't remember - was prior t my time) a small child who ran out. The argument was that you'd be more alert at the start of your shift, plus there's likely fewer people around for many workplaces then too, reducing risk of injuring anyone.

    • Hangryuman on 12/11/2022 - 16:23

      yeah nobody cares until a small child is killed, and then it is a living nightmare for the grieving parents who for the rest of their lives will be 'I don't want anyone else to suffer the way we did'

      I prefer to learn from other people's mistakes, and think ahead to AVOID terrible accidents.

  • Prosp24 on 12/11/2022 - 14:27
    +2

    As an engineer and experienced driver, i would describe my understanding as so:

    Almost all vehicles sold are front wheel drives where only the front wheel turns with the steering. I believe this is standardised under australian standards and Austroads guidelines.

    Vehicles are designed with a 'turning circle' radius in their specifications which is generally how sharp they can turn (e.g. if you were to drive in the sharpest/smallest circle you could). For larger cars the turning circle is much larger making it significnatly harder to front park. For example two correction movements might be needed to achieve a sharp 90 degree change in direction.

    The turning circle when reversing is significantly smaller when reversing (and centered differently), allowing for more manoeuvrability and changing of direction within tighter spaces and over smaller distances. Essentially when reverse parking there is much greater control to readjust the cars alignment and greater change in angle compared to front parking.

    The two side mirrors also provide greater visibility of clearance around the vehicle. This provision doesnt exist for forward parking and to some extent you are at the mercy of your approach angle into the parking space and also your 'gut feeling' as to the extent of the car and its clearances from objects and other cars.

    When i first started driving, front parking was more common and habitual, i dont do it anymore for a number of reasons as rear parking is just better.
    I once got asked the question from a friend whom i could tell was just starting to drive, she now reverse parks only too.
    I think its more the fear and unfamiliarity of rear parking that puts people off. Once it becomes standard and second nature, you'll wonder why you didnt do it sooner. Observe those in occupations that drive for a living (e.g. freight drivers, taxis etc) and notice their choice of technique.

    • Hangryuman on 12/11/2022 - 16:14
      +1

      agreed - good explanation - in our tight basement strata garage with concrete walls and posts between spaces, in several cases I tried to drive in forward but could not - it was always easier to make a tight turn in reverse

      possibly a little like why boats traditionally had the steering rudder at the rear - it allows a nicer tight turn around objects you don't want to hit - whereas steering at the front is more likely to turn the whole side into hit the object ?

    • factor on 12/11/2022 - 19:04

      A design engineer?

      The practical reason reverse parking is enforced on sites is a safety one. When reverse parking you have just driven past the empty bay and seen all surrounding hazards prior to reversing. When coming out forward you have good visibility of your surroundings.

  • thereyougo on 12/11/2022 - 14:32

    I am Batman, when the search shines, I am out of there.

    • Hangryuman on 12/11/2022 - 16:15

      Love Me Tinder - Who Was That Masked Man … ?

  • mqi on 12/11/2022 - 14:40

    Depends on the size of your car. Really large cars can park easier in reverse in tight spaces. Other reasons are work related, e.g. most industrial sites mandate all staff and visitors to reverse park to reduce the likelihood of accidents. So those folks just get used to it, force of habit.

  • cnrmlj on 12/11/2022 - 15:00

    Easier to get out if you do the hard work and reverse in first.

    If i am going grocery shopping with multiple bags expected i will usually drive in front first. If i am parking for other reasons e.g. movies, clothes shopping where i am only getting one or two bags etc. i will generally reverse in.

  • gstfree on 12/11/2022 - 15:15
    +2

    My school requested all cars to be reversed into parking lots - for the safety of kids who may play in the car park.

  • rlf on 12/11/2022 - 15:23
    +1

    OP you must be a really simple thinker, it's basic logic. Reverse parking is harder sure, but obviously it has to be done at one stage.

    Logic says the stage of going in is the easier option as you're not blind, you know where the cars are around you. Leaving, you can see the oncoming cars.

    If you need to reverse out, you cannot see the cars coming when you're backing out.

  • Jazmin79 on 12/11/2022 - 15:48

    I drive a Kia carnival and I find it easier to park if I reverse in. I’ve gained more confidence in getting it parked correctly than trying to head into a park and misjudging from the front. The only time I forward park my Kia is if I can drive through to a free front spot. I find it easier with my Mazda 3 as well but I tend to forward park this sometimes too.

  • Hangryuman on 12/11/2022 - 16:07

    as others said - typically easier and safer when leaving

    I used to see an idiot regularly reversing out of their house yard across two lanes of peak hour traffic on busy West Botany Rd - a major road in peak hours parallel to Princes Highway Number 1.

    This was around the time there were a number of stories of parents starting to reverse their car out of their driveway, only to find out too late that their toddler was standing in the way - ran over, crushed, and killed - gee never expected that - D'OH !!!

    much safer to spend the time carefully reversing into the yard on arrival home when the chance of a toddler just happening to be standing in the way would be about zero - or if there were kids playing in the yard they were easily be seen and notified to get out of the way.

    but no - natural selection at work - unthinking idiots drive straight in without thinking, then reverse out - and kill the occasional small child of theirs or even someone else's

    what could go wrong ? That.

  • hippieyippie on 12/11/2022 - 16:46

    I will do both reverse park and forward park depending on which one is more convenient. There are occasions where I will choose to reverse park regardless, it only takes me about 15-30 seconds more to reverse park compared to forward park anyway. The advantages of reverse parking had all been mentioned, easier to get into tight spots and less chances of another car driving into you when you are getting out of the spot especially if you parked in between 2 big SUV and can't get a clear view until about half the car is out of the spot.

    I don't think it's a matter of reverse parking or forward parking. It's a matter of drivers who can't park at all, reverse or forward. We have all seen those types.

  • plmko on 12/11/2022 - 16:56
    +4

    With this thread we now know who can't reverse park because they're trying to gas light about how it's pointless.

    It's the same as manual transmission. Those who can't drive manual always talk about how auto is always better.

  • mctubster on 12/11/2022 - 17:02

    The problem I saw twice at Wollies just this afternoon with reversing into a parking spot is a large number of people aren’t very good at it. You are reversing into a small spot and a lot have several goes for some reason. Whereas driving forward into a tight spot is easier for most people and when reversing out into a larger space it is also easier?!

  • Menzoberranzan on 12/11/2022 - 18:51

    Reverse parking is miles easier for me, I can do that shit one handed no problem. Drive in parking… oh that one makes me look like I don't know how to drive lol

  • R4 on 12/11/2022 - 19:16

    I've never understood the reasons why people choose not to reverse park.

    Safer. Easier to leave. Improves driving skills.

    Just better basically.

  • modernhunter on 12/11/2022 - 20:35

    Reverse? I handbrake parallel park.

  • quasio on 12/11/2022 - 21:02

    its mostly safety, a ton of accidents happen when u reverse out, whereas coming out forwards is much safer.
    So much so, a fair few offices I been to mandates reverse in car park spots.

  • skillet on 12/11/2022 - 21:05

    For some reason I can never park forward. Fail every single try regardless of the car I drive. I can never place the car in the middle of the spot.

    When I do a reverse park, I nail it everytime. This annoys me so much I have been considering training from professional instructor.

  • conza on 12/11/2022 - 21:08
    +1

    I don't think it makes sense either OP, but it's popular for the theory it saves time.

    Personally, I think it takes far more time and effort to reverse into a confined space, than to reverse into an open one, but I'm clearly in the minority.

  • max900 on 12/11/2022 - 21:34
    +1

    Same reason as parallel parking. So much easier for difficult or tight spaces.

  • johndoh89 on 12/11/2022 - 21:59

    When parking you are going from a place with good visibility (the road) into a place you can see. People can see you clearly and are likely to wait.

    When coming out of the park you increase your field of vision by facing forward and by your driving position being closer to the road. Especially if you're in a sedan between 4wd monsters and you have to get a large chunk of your vehicle into the road before you can see any crossing traffic.

  • bobs burgers on 12/11/2022 - 22:19

    Reverse in, you have much better view of the entire situation around you than when reversing out where your view is super narrow.

    I do this to get in our driveway, much better visibility from the street when reversing than reversing out of driveway

  • Hugh G Rection on 12/11/2022 - 22:29
    +1

    easier to get out of tight spots. in america you have bigger parking spaces, so you don't have to reverse park.

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