"Backing In" Parking Lot Syndrome?

[EightFingers]

Back in. That way you if you hit a car behind you, you can blame THEM. Just be sure to act suprised when you come back out to your car.

[Bullwinkle]

Act even more surprised when they roll the tape from the security cameras - most comercial locations have them now to cover their own liability - grin

[Carey]

Hubby started doing the reverse parking thing after a company sponsored defensive driving course soon after our American company became a British company....The first time I was like -WTF!, but DH explained it was much safer... so I let him have his little eccentricity, figuring it was a British thing he picked up...

Slate forum had this last year, which pretty much covers most of the opinions already posted:
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/trans...wrong.html

[Bullwinkle]

I think its also vehicle specific - fine in a sedan or econobox with lots of windows and no blind spots.

Vans, trucks, suv's may be another issue unless one can back using mirrors - very counter intuitive add some blind spots....

Any boat launch will work for pointers - grin One of my favorite activities at the marina is to have a beer on saturday afternoon and watch the excitement - fun to watch pick ups go swimming as well -

[konabish]

I'm a 30+ year firefighter and have always parked "pointed out". But more so for two safety reasons... personal, and vehicle. If someone is following you on foot, and you've parked "head-first", you are likely to have your back turned to a 'follower' as you open your door... and can be overpowered and pushed into the vehicle. A vehicle facing out will turn you at least where you are able to see what's coming from left or right. For your vehicle, you're at a disadvantage when backing-out: You are looking backwards, limiting what you see; then think about how far you have to pull-out before you can actually see oncoming cars: If you're already pointing out towards the lane, you'll see the oncoming traffic much, much sooner. Which way does traffic enter a busy highway? Backwards would be suicide. But backing-in requires a driver experienced enough to safely avoid people and objects, and in a 'timely' manner. That seems to stop most drivers. And it's best if there's no other traffic close-by: People are not used to other drivers backing-in to parking spaces; they can easily pull-up so close that they block you from backing-up, or even "steal" the space you intended to back into. If you try this maneuver while there's other traffic nearby, you're not being considerate of others.

[dayna]

quote:

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Originally posted by ericlp

I'd consider myself healthy and in good shape to trek a good 5-10 min walk to the enterance. I start at the back and get a better spot with out all the huge SUV's and people with kids walking around .... No matter what ped's are doing they always have the right of way...Clueless or not you hit one it's 100% your fault. Walking is a good form of exercise the more for me the better and I don't have to fight all these people that want to circle 20 times to get a spot next to the door! I also perfer to back in but usually where I park I just pull up. No need to back in or back out if you do it right! Saves on gas too!

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Having had hip surgery a little over a month ago, I am one of those people that'll circle looking for a spot close to the door. It's not because I don't want to walk, I can't.

Dayna

www.E-Z-Caps.com

[kalakoa]

When I had similarly intrusive surgery, I was granted a temporary handicap placard... might be worth asking your doctor for one.

[bananahead]

I only back in! one day you malahine who is too scared to try, will know why, when you try for pull out backwards in a narrow lot full of kids ... not funny
far safer, and BI drivers are better drivers overall, so do it more

save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[dayna]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

When I had similarly intrusive surgery, I was granted a temporary handicap placard... might be worth asking your doctor for one.

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I thought about that, but I ended up deciding not to ask. I have a husband that can drop me off close by if need be, and there are many many people that would need that space more than I. If I didn't have a husband to drop me off, that would be a different story!

Dayna

www.E-Z-Caps.com

[oink]

I back in about 50% of the time. It's a decision I make after appraising the situation each time. I try to back in with my extended cab 4x4 PU but not as much with the corolla. It's safer when leaving. When parking you get a partial drive by to check out the space before backing in. Leaving is easy.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.