Posted on 05/28/2019 2:42:37 PM PDT by dangus
I can't handle it anymore. My curiosity has burned for decades about this, and I finally decided that hey, there's a thing called the internet so I can ask:
Why do between about 1 in 5 and 1 in 10 people insist on parking backwards, despite the fact that it's obviously MUCH more difficult. I always get stuck waiting for these people why they try over and over to straighten their cars out. WHY?
I can't detect any trend in demographics... young v old, north v south, city v urban, white v non-white, men v women... just a consistent portion of people who INSIST on blocking me for fifteen minutes while they park backwards! Please... I'll just presume you're someone who can do it in one move, every time and never cause massive jams in parking lots... someone just tell me WHY you do it!!!
I have a Suburban and it’s much easier to park backwards. And FWIW, most companies who have vehicles (service companies, etc.) require backing into spaces or accessing a parking space so they can pull forward to leave. It’s for insurance reasons. Apparently, statistically speaking, more incidents happen when vehicles are backing out of a space.
Some lots in town here have this sign, which I can't figure at all...
Why?
Doing the hard work now makes for easy work later. Translation: Quick Getaway.
One is going to either back in or back out of a parking spot
If one backs in, at least you can see traffic as you pull out
Also, if you have a tow hitch, it’s not sticking out into traffic
In the state of Connecticut the law says that you are supposed to back into your own driveway. Everyone ignores it, of course. However, as a teenager, I found out the reason. I was backing out my folks’ ‘72 Chevy Impala. Unbeknownst to me, our neighbors across the street were also backing out at the same time. We both pulled out simultaneous and made contact. Damage was trivial, but the police who happened to come on the scene said we were both in the wrong. I was taught the same thing in driver’s ed.
If I could park backwards without causing a problem to others, I would. It’s because I always get nervous backing out of a parking spot (especially in a busy place). I check the mirrors, look around, etc., but am always worried I missed something. I can’t move my neck as easily as I used to, so in all honesty, for me to be able to just drive out of a spot would be such a relief. Add to that the fact that people walking across a busy lot are completely oblivious to anything and will walk right into your path without blinking an eye.
Why do between about 1 in 5 and 1 in 10 people insist on parking backwards, despite the fact that it’s obviously MUCH more difficult. I always get stuck waiting for these people why they try over and over to straighten their cars out. WHY?
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How is it hard to “park backwards”? I assume you have to back up when leaving? Is that hard for you?
Probably. I should post a whiny vanity about people like you taking for-freaking-ever to back out of a parking space.
If you can do it in one try, God be with you. It’s the people who end up making me wait behind them while they back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward, and back in, and pull forward.... (I love copy and paste.)
Let's do the math on that, okay? Let's say it takes 5 seconds to pull into a spot. Fifty times that would be over 4 minutes. Even 10 times that would be almost a full minute. It takes me perhaps an extra 10-15 seconds to pull past a spot, swinging across the lane as I do so, then backing in to a spot that I've already verified as clear, so I'll call B.S. on your speculation.
If I've I told you once, I've told you a million times; QUIT EXAGGERATING!
To aggravate you, of course
This is most likely the main answer to why park backwards.
It’s easier to get out without having to back up and maneuver out first.
Germany used to have regular sized parking spaces for men, and extra wide spaces for women. I don’t know it they still do.
Should I talk to you some more?
I have come closer to being hit by a car backing OUT of a parking space many, many, many more times than someone pulling out straight...
People do not look very well backing out...
A lot of companies require it. Oil companies typically require it for safety reasons, though I’m not sure I agree with them.
No it doesn’t.
The people who you are complaining about would still be slow and annoying if they were parking forward.
“Why does my wife drive around the parking lot ten times looking for a closer space to the stores front door so she doesnt have to walk another 50 feet to the store?.................”
Maybe she’s trying to gain weight.
>> How is it hard to park backwards? I assume you have to back up when leaving? Is that hard for you? <<
Evidently, it’s enormously hard for 99.999% of the people who do it. If I’m backing out, I’m always out in a single go. But people who back in have to try again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again. I just waited three songs for some bastard in my building to park straight.
Yeah, both my wife and I shake our heads at that one. Especially since it sometimes requires getting wedged between two vehicles.
Much easier just to park away and walk. Being 60+, the exercise is good. If the parking lot is a bit emptier further away and you have two empty parking spots backed up to each other, you can drive forward into the second spot and effectively be "parked backwards".
Drive forward to park; a little extra walking for exercise; drive forward to leave. :D
Also, they are teaching to pull through if possible, resulting in forward exit of parking spaces.
-PJ
My neighbors park backwards because their across the street neighbors park on the curb making it very difficult to back up their suvs.
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