Is It Ethical to Go the Wrong Way in a Carpark for a Parking Spot?

ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 08:54

This weekend I was at the shops and the car park was packed. I was following a car in front of me, and the whole car park had one-way lanes. The driver ahead stuck to the directional arrows. However, I spotted an open parking spot just a few spaces away in the opposite direction. There were no cars coming from that way, so I grabbed the spot. Surprisingly, the driver of the first car threw their hands up in frustration when they passed me.

What's your take on this? Is it okay to go against the flow in a car park to grab a spot, or should we always follow the one-way system?

MS paint for reference

Automotive Parking

Comments

  • cashless on 09/10/2023 - 09:07
    +266

    Whether or not it is legal or ethical, that is plain rude

    • Windows98 on 09/10/2023 - 13:34
      +91

      The "it's all about me" attitude on the road is extremely toxic and the worst part about driving in Aus.

      • Laserface on 10/10/2023 - 10:01
        +1

        it is inherent to a car-centric society and culture.

        • boretentsu on 10/10/2023 - 21:47
          +14

          Don't agree. You can still be a driver and not a d**k. It's a choice.

        • flopsy on 10/10/2023 - 22:47
          +7

          Remember almost getting hit by a flash Merc in Japan as I crossed the street. Was a bit concerned when he pulled up and ran over but he just profusely apologised.
          Don't want to make any broad implications from a single anecdote but I'd also be much more surprised if it happened here.

      • Fancy on 10/10/2023 - 19:03
        +2

        Thank you OP for creating this post.

        This post is almost exactly the same as what I have encountered on Sunday 08 October 2023 around 01:10pm in Chadstone Shopping Centre carpark.

        Please view the video, thank you.
        https://youtu.be/TtTmpHLzSHg

        • DazMon on 10/10/2023 - 20:29
          +5

          Wow your Dashcam area is so limited.

          • Fancy on 10/10/2023 - 21:18

            @DazMon: Did not notice when the dashcam has moved until I took the sd card out.

        • wildstone on 11/10/2023 - 01:31
          +2

          It is actually not 'exactly' the same. With the OP, there was nobody waiting for that spot, OP was just cutting the queue. In your situation, you were clearly waiting for it and he knows but still decides to take it.

        • pinchies on 11/10/2023 - 09:50
          +2

          What a twit!

        • SimAus007 on 11/10/2023 - 10:09
          +1

          What a nasty, entitled driver he was.

        • gguu on 11/10/2023 - 12:04
          -2

          In the video, the owner of the dashcam can be observed "trying to park" for a duration of 1.5 minutes. Given their slow driving, it raises questions about their suitability for driving on public roads.

        • BartholemewH on 11/10/2023 - 18:56

          You were in a 300 series? I would've pushed them out of the way with mine lol.

        • ialam99 on 12/10/2023 - 06:17

          Mate, you're too nice…i would have pressed the horn and used a few 4 letter words before leaving. I may not come back to key his car later on but I would have seriously considered it.

      • ddilrat on 11/10/2023 - 01:00

        Sounds like you've never driven overseas

      • smartazz104 on 10/10/2023 - 08:25
        +26

        "First in best dressed"

        Maybe over there in Bogan land.

        • HeWhoKnows on 12/10/2023 - 12:44
          -3

          Ask any policeman!
          Thats what they will tell you.
          As I said this is THE RULE
          Tough luck if you or anyone else dont like it.
          There are lots of rules we dont like.
          Negative voting the rules doesnt change the fact.

          Now who is in Bogan land?

          • SonOfATightASS on 12/10/2023 - 13:28
            +1

            @HeWhoKnows: If this happened to you or the Misses, you'd be a little annoyed though, right?
            If so, then that tells you something about the act.

          • Ughhh on 12/10/2023 - 19:55
            -1

            @HeWhoKnows: So you wouldn't be mad if someone cut infront of you in line at the ATM, Taxi rank etc?

      • RTX9090Ti on 10/10/2023 - 11:42
        -1

        *their

      • Eeples on 10/10/2023 - 17:06
        +1

        It could have effected the driver in front of the OP?

      • ChatCPT on 11/10/2023 - 16:00
        +2

        who is this genius using up everyone's negs?!
        competing with jv for biggest L. seems slow in the head

    • RTX9090Ti on 10/10/2023 - 11:41
      +1

      OP probably Tesla driver.

    • Ramrunner on 10/10/2023 - 18:52
      +10

      Agreed. To the OP: Yeah mate. You're the driver I yell at behind my windscreen also. Rules don't apply to you.It does frustrate me no end because it means you have zero regard for other people.

      To be fair it seems this is the way things are going these days unfortunately. I'm getting used to it, but I do think it's a shame my kids are brought up in this generaration, I personally prefer a society where people cared about other people, and had some respect for road directions which are pretty obvious in this case.

      Made my day this morning when a lady maybe 10 years my junior insisted I cut the line in front of her at ALDI (no-one else in line) because I only had two items in my hand.

      Luckily people like that balance out the others :)

    • kaleidoscope on 11/10/2023 - 14:35
      +1

      op needs to change username to ginormous<something else>

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/10/2023 - 09:08
    +88

    We live in a society

    • Mokr on 09/10/2023 - 10:18
      +5

      The line system, does not take into account emergencies. It treats every want as uniform when I could be needing the toilet to release the hounds.

      • R-Man on 09/10/2023 - 15:18

        Never heard this euphemism before 💀 😂

    • Hunter14 on 09/10/2023 - 16:28
      +2

      George Costanza or Joker version?

  • Aureus on 09/10/2023 - 09:09
    +108

    No poll? I think you were inconsiderate. You basically pushed in front because you chose to break the rules.

    • Ryanek on 09/10/2023 - 13:49
      +30

      That's like saying you don't stop at stop signs if there's no one around.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 09/10/2023 - 15:35
          +42

          No, it really doesn't. The road rules don't exist only when others are around, you realise that right? if you're the only one on the highway you can't just go 200km/h.

          How you act when no-one is around bleeds into how you act otherwise. The number of people who roll through stop signs is ridiculous.

          • [Deactivated] on 09/10/2023 - 15:49
            -5

            @coffeeinmyveins: Aside from law, yes it does. Again i did state"100% certain" which is rarely the case anyway

            • NoApostrophePlurals on 17/10/2023 - 00:49

              @[Deactivated]: You're clearly a pervert and do perverted things in public if you're 100% certain no one is around because you think it's a victimless crime. How does that sound?

          • fantombloo on 09/10/2023 - 15:50
            +4

            @coffeeinmyveins:

            The road rules don't exist only when others are around

            Not as a legal matter, but possibly yes as an ethical matter.

            Ever been stuck at a red light in the middle of the night on a motorbike that doesn't trip the sensor?

            • Roary on 10/10/2023 - 01:39

              @fantombloo: Push the pedestrian crossing (the same was as you are going) will often change the lights

              • kiitos on 11/10/2023 - 13:42

                @Roary: Though I guess that would involve leaving your bike in the middle of the road to run over and press the button, which isn't good either

            • coffeeinmyveins on 11/10/2023 - 12:05

              @fantombloo:

              Ever been stuck at a red light in the middle of the night on a motorbike that doesn't trip the sensor?

              Actually, yes. on my street the lights won't trigger from my motorbike which is fine during the day but at 12am when there's no cars it literally won't trip so I go through the red very carefully.

              I take your point. lol

          • Nedward on 11/10/2023 - 11:16

            @coffeeinmyveins: What is legal is not always ethical. What is ethical is not always legal. This thread is concerned with what is ethical. He said if he knows no one is around. Which if obviously never. That makes this a hypothetical. Ethically there is no issue here. If he crashes then he's the only one at risk. Yes it is a pointless discussion.

            • fantombloo on 11/10/2023 - 12:14
              +1

              @Nedward:

              What is legal is not always ethical. What is ethical is not always legal.

              Yes, these often don't correlate at all. Looking at laws for ethics is just lazy.

            • Chandler on 11/10/2023 - 18:40
              +3

              @Nedward:

              If he crashes then he's the only one at risk.

              Never the only one at risk.

              • Risk to other drivers due to damage to road, distraction, etc
              • Tying up emergency services resources
              • Risk to emergency responders in recovering OP/their vehicle
              • Pain/suffering to others in OPs life
        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/10/2023 - 15:51
          +1

          traffic cop hiding behind bush: mwahhahahhaha

        • nobro25 on 09/10/2023 - 17:28

          By your logic you'll run a red light if there's no cars, cops and cameras around.

        • RTX9090Ti on 10/10/2023 - 11:43

          that's like saying its Ok to steal from supermarket if there's no one around.

      • ChatCPT on 11/10/2023 - 16:01

        I dont stop at the stop sign if there's no one around

  • John Kimble on 09/10/2023 - 09:14
    +16

    Not cricket.

    I would assume you have a higher chance of being at fault if you happen to have an accident with someone following the rules also?

    Try this next time? But don't know if it works for small car parks.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-12-20/how-maths-can…

    PS very nice MS Paint job. Or did you steal that too? 😜

    • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 09:20
      +17

      The parking spot was stolen, but the MS Paint job was homemade.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/10/2023 - 09:25
      -1

      they would definitely be done , going the wrong way smh

    • trapper on 09/10/2023 - 12:51
      +2

      you have a higher chance of being at fault if you happen to have an accident

      You would almost certainly be at fault if you caused an accident driving the wrong way.

      • sardines on 09/10/2023 - 12:58
        +4

        Be interesting legally if someone reveresed into you. The person has duty of care reversing and not hitting cars or pedestrians but can the person reversing say " I checked both sides, then kept an eye on my left as i reversed out of prking space for fast moving cars and car X was going wrong way and crashed into me"

        • trapper on 09/10/2023 - 13:37
          +8

          I doubt there would be much explaining to do when one car was driving the wrong way.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 09/10/2023 - 15:39
          +3

          I think there's something to be said about a prior negligent act and its impact on a situation.

          Yes the person who is reversing has to ensure it is safe to do so, but that doesn't absolve the person who was driving the wrong way of responsibility.

          the person reversing could argue they were looking for traffic coming from the 'one way' direction and then this person driving the wrong way hit them as they reversed, as you have said.

        • smpantsonfire on 09/10/2023 - 21:24
          -3

          If it’s a carpark not maintained by the council, the arrows mean nothing.

          • Grunntt on 10/10/2023 - 09:05
            +2

            @smpantsonfire:

            If it’s a carpark not maintained by the council, the arrows mean nothing.

            You may want to read the Aust Road Rules -
            eg found this somewhere that the same assumption was being made.

            The Australian Road Rules (ARR) apply to ‘vehicles’ and ‘road users’ on ‘roads’ and ‘road-related areas’. Each of these terms has a defined meaning – of which ‘road’ is the most commonly misunderstood.

            According to the ARR, a road is “an area that is open to or used by the public, and is developed for, or has as one of its main uses, the driving or riding of motor vehicles”. A road-related area is “an area that divides a road” plus footpaths or nature strips adjacent to roads, public cycleways, and places open to the public that are used for parking.

            • ginormousgiraffe on 10/10/2023 - 18:56

              @Grunntt: In NSW at least, you would need signs to be able to enforce it, so they are half right. The car park doesn't have to be maintained by the council, but without road signs from Transport for NSW it is not against any law and the road markings are pretty meaningless from a legal pov.

              • Grunntt on 10/10/2023 - 22:17

                @ginormousgiraffe:

                In NSW at least, you would need signs to be able to enforce it

                Not saying you are wrong, but I can only find references that say 'sign or road marking' as though it is an either/or situation and it applies to either.
                Is there somewhere in the ARR that specifically states the requirement for a sign?
                I have to admit I haven't dug deeply through the whole document so probably missed it if it is there.

  • OMGJL on 09/10/2023 - 09:15
    +16

    I think you always better off follow all rules in a car park and be polite to anyone —— (not saying I will do this ever) but your car is left at the spot, and drain your tire or throw half cup of coffee on top of your car is quite a simple thing to do.

    • MikeKulls on 09/10/2023 - 12:33
      +7

      Or cable tie a shopping trolley to the door handles

    • THICKnSLOW on 10/10/2023 - 08:46
      +1

      why waste coffee!

      eggs

  • battler on 09/10/2023 - 09:33
    +37

    That's a sure way to get your car keyed.

      • plmko on 09/10/2023 - 09:40
        +37

        Weird how you call someone unhinged but then assume the unhinged would be deterred by just a camera lol

        • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 09:49
          +1

          I don't think it would deter them, but would provide enough details to report them if need be.

          • MikeKulls on 09/10/2023 - 12:36
            +17

            @ginormousgiraffe: You've clearly never got video before of someone breaking the law. In most cases it's impossible to put a name to a face. Especially for the "crime" of letting down the tire of someone who deserved it

            • trapper on 09/10/2023 - 12:58
              +2

              @MikeKulls:

              Especially for the "crime" of letting down the tire …

              The discussion here was about a car being keyed… nobody mentioned letting down tires but you.

              Letting down someone's tire is an actual crime too btw

            • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 12:58

              @MikeKulls: It is not difficult when you have video of them in their car with their numberplate visible beforehand.

              • Ughhh on 09/10/2023 - 13:19
                +7

                @ginormousgiraffe: You got proof linking the driver of the car and the keyer?

                • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 13:46
                  -7

                  @Ughhh: No one keyed my car, so obviously I do not have any proof.

                  Don't make things up in your head just so you can get mad at them.

                  • Ughhh on 09/10/2023 - 19:48
                    +1

                    @ginormousgiraffe: Of course it's based on a hypothetical, but very likely, scenario. If your car was keyed, you have no proof to link the driver of the car to the keyer, hence your dash cam is useless as some kind of proof.

                    I have seen people go back and do things to the jerks car. Your choice.

          • mrvaluepack on 09/10/2023 - 14:57
            +3

            @ginormousgiraffe: You would need to have cameras on both sides to capture the act. I doubt you actually have these as dash cams are only front and back. Unless the offender did it on your bonnet or boot or u have a tesla..

          • coffeeinmyveins on 09/10/2023 - 15:42
            +5

            @ginormousgiraffe:

            I don't think it would deter them, but would provide enough details to report them if need be.

            Report to who? the police?

            What do you think the police can (and will) do with video footage of someone. You realise this isn't CSI:Miami and there isn't a database they just scan a dashcam photo of someone against and find their details?

            Even if there is, they won't do it for someone keying a car.

            Hell, even having their licence plate all that helps you do is make an insurance claim, for which you'd be paying the excess, be without a car while it gets fixed etc.

            Is that really worth the hassle to just, you know, not be a dick?

      • Nugs on 09/10/2023 - 09:51
        +63

        "spend 30 seconds to find another spot"
        if that were so, why didn't you keep following the arrows?
        .

        • Broke-Ken on 09/10/2023 - 10:03
          +15

          The fact that the other drive drove past OP while they parked means there were no other free spots in that section. The other driver would have had to circle some more or head to a different area. So definitely wouldn't have taken just 30 seconds to find another spot.

          • ihfree on 09/10/2023 - 13:15
            +11

            @Broke-Ken: OP is still trying to rationalise their actions.

          • smartazz104 on 09/10/2023 - 17:51

            @Broke-Ken: Yeah, the other drive would have gotten that spot and OP would simply have driven another 30 seconds to find the next spot, in their mind.

      • gromit on 09/10/2023 - 13:10

        Kinda have to be pretty unhinged and petty in the first place to go the wrong way in a carpark in order to nab a spot.

      • smartazz104 on 09/10/2023 - 17:50
        +1

        because you had to spend 30 seconds to find another spot

        You went the wrong way to avoid spending another "30 seconds"…

      • OzBarAnon on 10/10/2023 - 15:22

        Evidently you had no issue with breaking the rules in lieu of "having to spend 30 seconds to find another spot"

      • morse on 12/10/2023 - 05:32

        Yep and there’s a lot of unhinged people in the world.

      • ankor on 12/10/2023 - 08:55

        The hypocrisy.

    • Moral hazard on 10/10/2023 - 09:25

      Keying a car is a sure way for something worse to happen if you get caught in the act.

  • altomic on 09/10/2023 - 09:39
    -3

    Kierkegaard conceptualises “the moment” theologically, counselling that when we are about to act in one way or another, with all the anxiety that is therefore aroused, we must see ourselves in that moment as those living before God, accountable to him for how we are living today.

    • Mokr on 09/10/2023 - 10:16

      What would jesus do?

      • furyou on 09/10/2023 - 20:29
        -1

        Give up the car space. And spend the next 3 hours in the car park.

      • simplystu on 09/10/2023 - 20:36

        pray for a spot right up close to the entrance … just as you get there, someone vacates spot ?
        happy days :) :) :) … and no need to go wrong way either.

        ooh and even better, if spot only allows cars to be parked on one side (other side has nature strip).

        BTW everyone has freedom of religion … i'm spiritual, but not religious … although @altomic certainly picked wrong thread to post in.

        • altomic on 09/10/2023 - 21:34

          I'm certainly not religious. i was just posting the position of a 19th century Danish philosopher.

          I now understand that one should only post the views of philosophers whos names start with "S"

          • ssfps on 10/10/2023 - 03:48

            @altomic: I'd have thought the ozb demographic would be all over Kierkegaard since he starred in a popular TV show a few years ago.

      • ihfree on 10/10/2023 - 17:03

        Take the wheel

      • SuperLate on 12/10/2023 - 09:59

        Get a parking space reserved for himself.

  • Mokr on 09/10/2023 - 09:40
    +15

    He who goes to shopping centre during peak hour

    Bound to have bad time

  • Archi on 09/10/2023 - 09:41
    +5

    if i was the guy in front of you, not something i would do.

    but in that small car park, is a dick move

    however in a much larger carpark, i wouldn't be as up set

    • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 09:48

      Car park is relatively big, I would say a few thousand spots at least. MS Paint diagram is only a small portion of the car park.

  • pegaxs on 09/10/2023 - 09:47
    +34

    Depends… Are you the only person there and no one else is about? Sure, have at it.

    If you are doing it to try and chop someone else out who has done the right thing by going around, then no, (fropanity) you and your entire lineage.

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