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

    • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 10:02
      -1

      The driver in front was the only person in that section of the car park at that time. I didn't know the intentions of the driver in front, I assumed they wouldn't loop back around.

      • based on 09/10/2023 - 14:58

        If you had known the car in front was going to do that, would you have still taken the wrong way shortcut to grab the park?

        • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 15:00

          If it thought that the driver was going to go all the way around for that spot, I would not have taken the spot.

          You have to drive through that part of the car park to get to the exit of the car park, so I assumed that they were going to the exit.

          • Ghost47 on 09/10/2023 - 16:05
            +15

            @ginormousgiraffe: If you assumed they were exiting (and you mentioned they were the only other car there at the time) why would you rush to get to the spot first then?

            • pegaxs on 09/10/2023 - 17:26
              +15

              @Ghost47: And ladies and gentlemen, we have a bingo. Exactly this. If OP thought the other driver was leaving, there would be absolutely no reason to drive the wrong way and dive for a parking spot.

              100% OP suspected and made the dive.

          • dbun1 on 10/10/2023 - 07:52
            +5

            @ginormousgiraffe: Rubbish. If you knew that then you would have followed the arrows courteously and gone around for the spot.

            You wanted to beat the other car there.

          • based on 10/10/2023 - 08:28
            +2

            @ginormousgiraffe: Lesson learned for next time, other cars will drive according to the markings, even if it means they have to go a little further. Don't make the same mistake and assume they're going for the exit next time.

            Or do, and take their park again, and be in the wrong again and deal with the unlikely but possible retaliations others have pointed out.
            If you really considered it theirs because they were in front you could still have given it back to them.

  • apsilon on 09/10/2023 - 09:51
    +8

    If it's a publicly accessible carpark, which it sounds like it is in this case, then all road rules apply so going the wrong way you could be fined if spotted by a cop (unlikely I know) and in the event of an accident, even if not at fault, blame could be apportioned or perhaps even solely attributed to you.

    That aside, it's poor form IMO.

  • randomusername2017 on 09/10/2023 - 09:57
    +6

    Follow up post: I was t-boned by an unattentive driver reversing out of car park spot, am I at fault..

    • pegaxs on 09/10/2023 - 11:54
      +6

      "I got back to my car and all my tyres were cut… Shopping center wont give me the footage…"

  • DJR9000 on 09/10/2023 - 10:23
    +2

    I once was in a carpark, spotted a spot, went a little past it to line up to reverse into it when some rude old person decided to take it for themselves. I learnt a lesson that day - people suck. I definitely let them know about it but they didn't give a rat's about it.

    What gets me is that people then leave their car behind when it could be keyed, have the tyres deflated, a rude note inserted under the wipers, 10 Jesus Loves You stickers placed all over the car, you name it - i'm not that kinda person but I can see that some people might be that vindictive in the circumstances

    I just avoid super busy car parks and I have far less stress in my life.

    • Sammy2000 on 09/10/2023 - 11:55
      +3

      Stickers? What a great idea

  • JIMB0 on 09/10/2023 - 10:27

    I did this once without realising it as there was no arrows on the ground, just a no entry sign which I didn't see. Some Karen pulled up and told me I took her spot and that it's only one way. I pointed out that I was only going one way. She kept going and turned right where there was a no right turn sign. Walking into the shops I pointed this out to her, she got angry, I told her to have a nice day and I walked off laughing.

    • ShiKu on 09/10/2023 - 19:12
      +2

      And everyone clapped? I bet they did

      • JIMB0 on 09/10/2023 - 21:13

        The husband didn't look too impressed. He just sat in the car looking the other way. Poor bloke.

        • ShiKu on 09/10/2023 - 21:59

          Yeah, nobody deserves someone like her for a partner

    • morse on 12/10/2023 - 05:19

      just a no entry sign which I didn't see.

      Sure you didn’t. Do you have trouble with Stop and give way signs too?

      you’ve just admitted to stooping to a Karen or Kevin move by escalating and continuing an argument once in the shopping centre.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/10/2023 - 10:32
    +3

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

    It's immoral

  • nocure on 09/10/2023 - 10:34
    +3

    When the fabrics of society breakdown, what are we left with…?

  • debb on 09/10/2023 - 10:55
    +1

    Probably a wrong way to get a parking spot…

  • mrdean on 09/10/2023 - 10:57
    +4

    Like another poster mentioned, if there was no one else in that area of the carpark looking for a park, then I would say OK.

    But, in your case, there was a car in front of you, whether they spotted the space or not, you should of given them the opportunity to, following the one way lanes.

  • foxmulder on 09/10/2023 - 11:02

    I did the same thing once, the other driver wasn't happy either.

  • JMosk on 09/10/2023 - 11:04
    +5

    YTA

  • keejoonc on 09/10/2023 - 11:25
    +1

    You had to ask whether what you did is right or wrong? You seriously need to get your moral compass checked.

    • factor on 09/10/2023 - 15:54

      Ozbargain - the modern-day catholic confessional. Come here to be told to "repent sinner"!

    • smartazz104 on 09/10/2023 - 17:47

      OP knows they were in the wrong, they were hoping for some sort of validation. Too bad they are new to the internet.

  • deme on 09/10/2023 - 11:39
    +4

    Typical, hello I'm an (profanity) but can someone tell me I'm not.

  • dlakers3peat on 09/10/2023 - 11:42
    +11

    if everyone did what you did the car park, it would be chaotic. there is a reason why they have directions in a car park for people to follow. It is selfish and completely inconsiderate of other people.

      • bdl on 09/10/2023 - 12:36
        +7

        Why create this thread then?

      • Not SkyNet on 10/10/2023 - 08:27
        +5

        Huh!? you think if people drove the wrong way to get a park "5 to 10 spots away" it would not cause a problem, pull your head out if you really believe that.
        What if someone in that that parking area was in their car and pulled out to leave, there would then be someone blocking them from leaving going the wrong way, THEN if another car was coming the correct way them in that lane soon after, they could also potentially blocked behind them causing a snow ball effect just because one driver thought they were special.

      • Ricktheroller on 10/10/2023 - 09:03

        It should be ok if I drive 50-100 metres down a one way street to drive down that laneway.

      • ceroau on 10/10/2023 - 15:49
        +1

        When you assume when no one is coming that way*

        You don't know for certain that no one is coming the other way, you don't know if the driver on the other end going the right direction is only a split second behind you turning into the lane themselves. You can make assumptions all day but you don't know shit. You know how many people in the entire history of car accidents have said " I didn't see them"? I don't know either but I bet you a billion dollars it's a lot and that's the point. We have these rules that sometime inconvenience all of us in society(not just you) so we can remove the need of individual "problem solving" by "geniuses" like yourself so society as a whole can prosper.

        Just follow the damn car park rules man or remove yourself from society, shit ain't that hard.

  • netjock on 09/10/2023 - 11:44

    Poll?

    • SwarlesBarkley on 09/10/2023 - 12:14
      +8

      Imagine thinking driving the wrong way in a carpark was a "trick" that nobody knows about.

      • Papa Huggies on 09/10/2023 - 13:11
        -8

        Hey you might know it but if you want to keep hamstringing yourself and wasting time to keep following an imaginary moral standard be my guest

        • SwarlesBarkley on 09/10/2023 - 14:21
          +2

          Just out of curiosity, do you think insurance companies also view road markings as an "imaginary moral standard" if you cause an accident?

          • Papa Huggies on 10/10/2023 - 10:05
            +1

            @SwarlesBarkley: That's the risk you take.

            • ceroau on 10/10/2023 - 15:51

              @Papa Huggies: And unnecessary risk that endangers others. If you don't like the rules set forth by society mate, just remove yourself from it. No one is forcing you to remain, plenty of empty bushland in Australia to go live life by your own rules.

              • Papa Huggies on 11/10/2023 - 10:04
                +1

                @ceroau: It's 5km/h if you're endangering others at 5km/h stop driving your RAV4

                I can do whatever I want buddy you ain't the police

    • ihfree on 09/10/2023 - 13:37
      +5

      Drivers hate him! Find out the one trick they don't want you to know…

      Yeah, driving down a one way street the wrong way isn't a "trick"

  • Drakesy on 09/10/2023 - 11:45
    +5

    1/10
    Low quality troll.

    • Protractor on 09/10/2023 - 14:37
      +2

      too generous

  • ihfree on 09/10/2023 - 11:49
    +3

    IMO, yes - In a busy carpark, it is unethical.

    The first two spots are probably fine as you can reverse back into them. It's a sliding scale from there in terms of being unethical.

    In a non-busy carpark or if there are no cars waiting, then, it doesn't matter what you do.

  • roguescholar on 09/10/2023 - 11:55
    +5

    You should've reversed down that lane, and then reverse parked into that spot.
    Technically you aren't going against the arrows… 😆

    Surprisingly, the driver of the first car threw their hands up in frustration when they passed me.

    I am not surprised.

    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?

    If the carpark is pretty much empty I wouldn't care much.

    • smartazz104 on 09/10/2023 - 17:48
      +1

      Technically

      The arrow indicates the direction of movement, not which way your car is facing…

  • Spootage on 09/10/2023 - 12:08
    +5

    Yes, you are the bad guy.

  • EFC94 on 09/10/2023 - 12:18
    +2

    I think it's fair game. Similar to to the times you're driving around for 15 minutes and can't find one but then some hero drives in and gets one in 30 seconds. Getting a carpark its pot luck.

  • EdenKai on 09/10/2023 - 12:41
    +5

    Look i think youre in the wrong, because you broke the rules whilst the guy in front followed them. So you stole a parking spot, by being sneaky. Having said that, i think we've all been there before so I cant judge you.

  • deme on 09/10/2023 - 12:43
    +3

    When you look at this thread: remember ~7.3% of people have an IQ < 80

    • idonotknowwhy on 09/10/2023 - 21:05
      +1

      I genuinely need an mspaint diagram if I'm supposed to understand what happened in OP here

  • trapper on 09/10/2023 - 12:47
    +4

    Road rules apply in all road related areas - which includes publicly accessible carparks.

    So it's not only unethical, but also a traffic offence.

  • mountaineer on 09/10/2023 - 12:59
    +11

    OP, if people don't need to follow the lines/directions why would they be put there in the first place? You really need to come here to ask people's opinion to realise you did the wrong thing? Don't do it next time please.

    • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 13:03
      +1

      Because there is not enough room for two cars to easily pass side by side, but that wasn't an issue as there was no one there. I didn't intentionally steal the other cars spot. I know it was technically wrong in the same way jaywalkers are the scum of the earth. This thread will not change my behaviour of going the wrong way for a spot.

      • Papa Huggies on 09/10/2023 - 13:13
        -2

        Keep doing it man as I said 90% of people condemning you do the same thing. Don't waste 3m of your life to follow some arbitrary standard.

      • mountaineer on 09/10/2023 - 13:18
        +7

        A wrong is wrong, there is no such a thing as technically wrong or morally wrong or xxxx-ly wrong. It won't change the fact it is not correct and you know that pretty well. Any technicality debate won't make you feel better. What could make you feel better is simply not to do it again. It is not that hard.

        • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 13:50
          -5

          I hope you have never jaywalked, used your horn to say goodbye or driven 1km over the limit.

          You can catch me doing this again in the near future at a shopping centre near you.

          • mountaineer on 09/10/2023 - 13:51
            +2

            @ginormousgiraffe: If this makes you feel better and keep doing what you have done, sure, no one gonna stop you mate. Have a nice day.

          • SwarlesBarkley on 09/10/2023 - 14:31

            @ginormousgiraffe: Whataboutism.

          • keejoonc on 09/10/2023 - 15:36
            +11

            @ginormousgiraffe: You do what you want to do, but please don't come here and post this sort of garbage again because the fact that you thought there was a sliver of chance people were going to support your actions says a lot about your character as a person, not to mention your attitude when people called you out for being a dick.

            • Ghost47 on 09/10/2023 - 16:13
              +3

              @keejoonc:

              not to mention your attitude when people called you out for being a dick.

              This is the worst part about society, people just can’t take criticism without denying that their behaviour is bad.

          • gromit on 10/10/2023 - 16:32
            +2

            @ginormousgiraffe: Lets leave the being a dick to save 30 seconds to the side for a moment. The problem is if you do this eventually it is going to go bad. e.g. a car you didn't see turns into that lane or more likely a car reversing or pulling out doesn't look in your direction as after all cars they have to worry about will only be coming from the other way. You can't anticipate every action from other cars and when you do something that is unexpected you are heightening your chances of causes an accident.

      • smartazz104 on 09/10/2023 - 17:49

        I didn't intentionally steal the other cars spot

        But you did.

  • GordonD on 09/10/2023 - 13:24

    You are required to obey the road rules and all authorised standard signs whether you are on the road or in a road related area, like a parking lot that is open to the public.

    It is possible that a sign on a road isn't actually authorised. It could be, for example, that local residents want to slow the traffic, so they put up what looks exactly like a speed limit sign. Or someone had painted an authentic looking arrow on the road. You would not be required to obey it.

    It is possible that a sign in a road-related area is actually authorised. It may be if it is government property. If it clearly is private property any signs like arrows are not authorised, so you wouldn't be able to be booked for not obeying them. But if an accident occurs, and you have ignored the warning the sign gave, you could be booked for the more general offence of driving negligently or dangerously. And you can be booked for things like drink driving.

    • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 17:07
      -1

      No signage in the car park, only directional arrows on the floor.

  • Blargman2001 on 09/10/2023 - 13:37
    +2

    Going the wrong way down a one way road is illegal. Breaking the law for your own gain is unethical.

    • factor on 09/10/2023 - 17:34

      Oddly enough there appears to be a gap in the road rule regulation.

      Driving down a road with a one-way road-sign is indeed illegal: http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nsw/cons…

      However, the regulation differentiates between road-signs and road-markings. I can't find any definition of a one-way road-marking. If traffic direction in the carpark is only controlled by painted road-markings, it doesn't appear any rule is breached.

      (it's not like this is the only error in the road rules …!)

      • Blargman2001 on 09/10/2023 - 19:32

        I'd be curious to see the difference between road markings and signs tested in court.

  • capslock on 09/10/2023 - 13:41
    +6

    Sadly, selfish and unethical people tends to be the ones who get richer and further ahead in life.

  • EightImmortals on 09/10/2023 - 14:15
    -8

    Well done. Assuming there were no other cars actually waiting for that spot of course. If the numty in front of you chose to loop the whole car park instead of having having the initiative to look and make a decision then that's on them.

    Ozbargain response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXouoMDOnos

  • Kenb0 on 09/10/2023 - 14:30
    +6

    This is like one of those typical AITA threads on reddit. If you suspect that you're the A and have to ask a public forum to check if you are or not, then chances are, you're the A.

  • Protractor on 09/10/2023 - 14:31
    -2

    What's next, steal the disabled carpark spot?

    You can swap out the word 'ethical' for 'par for the course' on all these 'scenarios' .
    The driver who saw you play the gutter move wasn't just throwing their arms up randomly, they were telling you in Auslan you are a "low arse." (They probably intended doing alp to get to the spot you sleazed into.) I'm told it usually comes with a Karmic component at some point

  • Miss B on 09/10/2023 - 14:50

    They have clearly made it one way to help with traffic flow. Sure in this instance no car ended up coming, but they could have and it would have been a lot of messing around just because you think you're somehow special, all to save yourself 30 seconds by your own admission. Given you've stated it would only have taken 30 seconds to get a different park, it seems like an unnecessary risk of inconvenience, potentially blocking traffic for much longer than that.

    Or was the 30 seconds a lie you had to tell yourself to justify your actions? In which case obviously you feel like you've done the wrong thing, so there's no real reason to post here, you've already judged yourself unethical.

  • AustriaBargain on 09/10/2023 - 14:57
    +1

    It's only permissible if you're alone and a car following the rules wouldn't have taken it.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 09/10/2023 - 15:44

      permissible according to whom?

      I didn't know rules were pick and choose based on who is and isn't around lol

      • AustriaBargain on 09/10/2023 - 15:54
        +1

        If no one sees you break a rule and it affects no one, was a rule even broken?

      • morse on 12/10/2023 - 05:24

        Other people - the ones we share humanity our dystopian reality with.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 09/10/2023 - 15:35
    +7

    Surprisingly

    I love how you do something that is obviously a dick move and act all surprised pikachu.

    How would you feel if the situation were reversed?

    Also, if a car suddenly reversed out of a spot and hit you, I guess you may have fun with the insurance company explaining why you were going the wrong way in a parking lot.

    I'm guessing you're also in the camp of thinking it's ok to park in a disabled spot "for a few minutes" to grab something?

    • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 15:42
      -3

      How would you feel if the situation were reversed?

      It does not happen to me as I would have went directly to the spot

      Also, if a car suddenly reversed out of a spot and hit you, I guess you may have fun with the insurance company explaining why you were going the wrong way in a parking lot.

      Yes, agree this would be an issue if you got hit. I would imagine you would be at partial fault at the very least.

      I'm guessing you're also in the camp of thinking it's ok to park in a disabled spot "for a few minutes" to grab something?

      No, why are you making things up just to rile yourself up.

      • SwarlesBarkley on 09/10/2023 - 16:57

        "I would imagine you would be at partial fault at the very least."

        If the roles were reversed and you were hit by a car going the wrong way because you were checking the correct direction while reversing, would you think you were at partial fault?

        • ginormousgiraffe on 09/10/2023 - 17:05

          Whirlpool has already had this discussion and it looks like going the wrong way would put you at no fault according to that guys insurance company at least.

          https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2761710

          • SwarlesBarkley on 09/10/2023 - 17:28
            +2

            @ginormousgiraffe: Looks like everyone in that thread is giving their opinion, but only one poster had an actual experience in a shopping centre carpark and this was the outcome:

            https://whrl.pl/RffW1t

            • ihfree on 09/10/2023 - 17:52
              +1

              @SwarlesBarkley: Still, insurance is an absolute pain even if you are in the right. All something that could be avoided if OP spent "another 30 seconds to find another spot"

              • SwarlesBarkley on 09/10/2023 - 17:53

                @ihfree: Agreed!

              • coffeeinmyveins on 12/10/2023 - 09:40

                @ihfree: Insurance companies only make money when they deny claims.

                That's why there are so many exclusions to policies.

                People get things like car or travel insurance and think they are protected but boy oh boy they are not.

                I can think of a million real life examples (I work in the industry) including someone who got travel insurance, had an accident and their claim was denied because the accident occured on a motorbike which is explicitly excluded in the policy.

                Or junk policies where you pay for protection if your flight is delayed. What constitutes a delay, you ask? 72 hours or more. LOL

                Honestly there are so many junk policies out there, buyer beware.

  • IMadeYouReadThis on 09/10/2023 - 15:48
    +1

    I don't mind going the wrong way if I am the only car looking for parking but if I see someone else is there before me going the right way, I won't go the wrong way. Life is complex in itself so I like to keep it simple, non confrontational etc etc

  • Cusack on 09/10/2023 - 16:16

    Was it an action you could be proud of?

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