I once heard “to keep your tailgate from being stolen” but that seems like it’d be a rare case.
There’s a reason a number of large companies that self-insure mandate backing in for all their vehicles (Schlumberger, Cargill); it’s demonstrably safer practice that results in less accidents when leaving the parking space. You can see everything when you back in that was there when you pulled up, and when you pull out, you’re right up front looking forward into the lane as you pull out. You quickly learn how to back in, even without a backup camera, if you learn how to use your mirrors.
It is by far the statistically less accident prone method.
This is why I do it.
You know how the surroundings are now and you don’t know how they are going to be when you have to drive out again. Makes sense to prepare for the unknown
Not only makes it easier to leave when you need to, as you can see everything that you might hit or might hit you.
But going backwards means you can more easily line up in the space as you have more control over your angle.
Like parallel parking is essier when reversing as you dont need to correct once in the space. Just 45 degree to the kerb and straighten up and you are in. Going forward parallel parking takes loads of correction or needs a really big gap to fit in to.
It takes advantage of right-of-way to avoid collision while backing.
I’m following you. When you decide to back in to your parking space, you have the right-of-way over the lane until you have completely left it. I have to yield to you, even if you come to a complete stop in the lane of traffic. While your vision and attention is compromised due to backing, I am responsible for avoiding you.
When you are attempting to back out of the parking spot and into my lane, you do not have right-of-way until you are fully established in the lane. Despite your vision and attention being compromised due to backing, you are also responsible for avoiding me. I don’t have to yield to you until you are completely within the lane.
I support this narrative.
Not because it is logical, BUT BECAUSE IT IS FUCKING RIGHT!
GET IT, CHARLOTTE?
I DON’T HAVE EYES ON MY CAR’S TAIL-LIGHT TO SEE YOU WERE COMING TOWARDS ME.
Sometimes backing in seems easier than backing out
The real answer, sometimes the geometry makes more sense to back in 🤷♂️
Geometry is a lot of it. It also makes seeing much easier when pulling out. When backing in, I can easily see the traffic lane around me, and they can see me pretty easy as well (I’m the asshole blocking up the whole place). When driving out, only a smaller portion of my vehicle needs to enter the traffic lane before I have a clear view of any opposing traffic. For the case of nosing it, I have a clear view while pulling in; but, when pulling out I need to get most of my vehicle out into the traffic lane, before I can see anything.
When I have to park in a particularly narrow spot, I find backing in easier due to the better vantage point of the camera.
Especially if your car has a rear camera.
I’ve driving long enough that I can “feel” my way through parking normally, but sometimes I just want to play the minigame.
I thought it was pretty obvious to everyone that it’s because it’s easier to get out that way. You don’t have any blind spots. Easier for you to back into the spot than to back out of it (angles permitting).
Because you have more control and visibility both when you get in and get out.
In and out of the parking spot right?
Actually having to sit and watch these morons attempt to back in in the first place says otherwise.
Now imagine having to sit and wait and watch them back out instead. Ugh.
Safer when pulling out of parking stall. Less blind spots.
Although I don’t back in. I drive through from one spot to the next in front of me. So I can drive out.
The old pull-through. Some places insist on putting those damn concrete Toblerone blocks in front of you to prevent that sort of thing.
Keep a watchful eye when doing so, because I have seen many an argument break out in a parking lot when someone was trying to pull through at the same time someone else who couldn’t see them was trying to pull in to the same space from the outer side. Bonus points if they boop noses in the process. Somehow nobody ever seems to arrive at the simple conclusion, in such cases, of party A just reversing a couple of feet back into the first space to let party B take the second one.
The only issue with pulling-through in a parking lot is one-way lanes with angled spots (the majority of parking lots in my area) because then you’re pulling forward against the flow of traffic or have to make an extremely sharp turn upon exiting. It’d be fine with straight spots or two-way lanes, but people still do it in the former circumstance and end up driving the wrong way.
Oooh la-la, fancy parking.
Me too, whenever possible, otherwise I back in to show off my superior driving (and parking) skills.
I knew a girl in high school who was pulling through a spot too fast and got into a head on collision. Now I’m so paranoid about pulling through
Much easier to pull out after, and I can leave quicker despite taking slightly longer to pull in.
Exactly. I’m in no rush to park, but you never know when you might need to fuck the hell off in a hurry lol.
Is backing into parking spots not the norm in the US? Here in Germany we back into parking spots most of the time, mostly because the spots are too narrow or short to enter forward. We also learn this in driving school and it’s pretty much an essential skill that’s expected from drivers in Germany.
Americans avoid it like the plague for some reason. I always back in because I can look at the spot for objects or problems before I start backing in to ensure I dont hit anything. Backing out blind can be risky otherwise.
I back into my driveway. Way I see it, I either back in or back out. So what’s the difference
I have way more maneuverability backing into a space.
Think of it in terms of circles (well, arcs, really) . If you front park in a space perpendicular to the road, your front wheels make a large circle and your back wheels a smaller one. The parking space needs to be big enough to accommodate the larger circle. If you back into the same space, the larger circle happens on the road.
Was looking for this one.
When parking i can get a good view of the immediate area, it’s easy to spot pedestrians and oncoming cars. Pulling out is easy. If I have to back out I don’t have such a good view. Yeah I get a look as I approach my car but by the time I sit down, click my seat belt, start the car, someone i didn’t see could be coming along.
You can fit in more easily. Having the steering axle in the back relative to the direction of movement allows you to drive tighter curves (like a forklift).
My mom does this every time she parks, even in our driveway. She’s always said it’s so if her car stalls, it’s easier to get it jumped or towed out of the spot.
Obviously so everyone knows I’m better than them
