15 Jan 2012 8:44 PM
19 Apr 2008
Regina, *home* is E-Town!
Tanky
Postaholic
8,873
DH and I get (irrationally) irritated by people who back into parking stalls. They usually take forever to do so, and it grinds my gears for some odd reason.
We find it's usually older gentlemen who do this, or people from farms or very small towns. It drives us bonkers, because it just seems weird that you'd take the extra time to back in, just so you can drive straight out.
I often pull straight through if there's 2 spots open, but I don't find it to be 'weird' like I do with backing in.
So, I'm just curious, do you back into stalls? Why?
15 Jan 2012 8:47 PM
6 Jan 2010
Spiablie
Addict
3,172
I put never but I should have put what the heck for.
15 Jan 2012 8:52 PM
30 Apr 2008
Surrey, BC
letsgethitched
Addict
3,887
It's actually a requirement of the driving test in BC to reverse into a parking spot. It's considered safer than backing out into traffic.
15 Jan 2012 8:53 PM
15 Jul 2010
Happiness
Addict
3,145
I'll back in if there is a big wide space. It's so much easier to just pull out when it's time to leave. If there is a line up of traffic behind me I get too intimidated and just park normally though.
15 Jan 2012 8:54 PM
4 Dec 2005
newyears
Addict
4,396
Depends on the parking lot and what I'm doing. If I'm loading up on tons of groceries I'd pull in forwards because then I'd have easier access to the trunk. But in the lot at my work I find it has lots of blind spots so I prefer to back in so I can get out of the spot easier.
Don't worry though, I park fast
Its a requirement for mili.tary vehicles... so yes, I have.
15 Jan 2012 8:55 PM
2 Jan 2009
Nunavut
MillyHa
Postaholic
6,666
You would hate DH. He will NOT pull in straight to a spot. I back in if I can, but I'd pull in straight if there was someone behind me.
You're right. I MUCH prefer to pull straight out instead of backing into traffic.
15 Jan 2012 8:55 PM
27 Oct 2009
mrssp
Devotee
1,502
Never! Only because I suck terribly at it!
15 Jan 2012 8:59 PM
7 Nov 2011
bottom of the glass
Probably Drunk
Devotee
1,992
At the school parking lot when picking DD up after school, yes. With all the kids passing through it's safer to drive straight out than pull out in reverse. Any other time, no.
One way to avoid the slow backer-inners is to park further away from the store entrance. Backer-inners like to park in the closer, more congested areas of the parking lot. It's a proven fact. I can't provide a source. It's just true.
15 Jan 2012 9:02 PM
6 Jun 2007
i_love_milo
Addict
3,851
I typically back into parking spots, unless I'm getting groceries. I'm pretty good at it, and it's so much easier pulling out, especially in parking garages and narrow lots. I also find it a lot easier to park a truck this way.
Now parallel parking is another story
15 Jan 2012 9:02 PM
15 Jan 2007
candctroll
Addict
3,774
I have a big vehicle. In tight parking spots it's often easier to back in then to try to pull straight in.
15 Jan 2012 9:14 PM
7 Nov 2007
Winnipeg, Manitoba
his.fallen.angel
Postaholic
9,112
I do sometimes, DH does all the time. And we aren't from farms or small towns.
It's far easier to pull out into traffic in a parking lot for starters, it's dadter(at least for us it is) and at least for my former tow truck driving DH, it's force of habit even years later.
We only back into our driveways, always have. Our old house was on a major truck route and was nearly impossible to leave in rush hour backing out. Our new house is dead even with a back lane that is stones throw from an elementary school with a shared driveway of people that have a van and a honking suv. It's a million times easier and safer to back in. Although right now I drive in as my car doesn't move on weekdays so driving in helps to protect the engine from cold north winds.
15 Jan 2012 9:24 PM
28 Dec 2005
Winnipeg
Nuevodia
Raving Lunatic
12,491
I totally suck at it, so I never do it.
15 Jan 2012 9:24 PM
25 Oct 2007
Alberta
samoreo
Addict
2,991
I never do, because I'm terrible at it. I honestly believe I have a spatial reasoning/brain issue.
However, when I was driving the 'ol 85 Corolla in the sea of SUVs and trucks, I wish I could have. Backing out was usually a game of russian roulette in that car, and I'd park really far away, if I could, in hopes of finding a pull-through spot, but often there wasn't one. Being able to drive straight out is way safer, I think.
15 Jan 2012 9:24 PM
11 Dec 2008
Ottawa
Dreas
Devotee
1,910
A couple of years ago I reversed out of a parking spot and hit a car
so now I am really paranoid and try to back in or drive through. I have learned the hard way that it is such a safer way to park.
We also always back into our driveway because it is a fairly busy street with 4 schools all on our block. Our street always has lots of buses, kids walking and cars driving really fast. When we are backing into the driveway we have had many impatient people honk at us. It is so aggrevating and makes me so mad! I have no problem taking my time to slowly back into my driveway, even if it makes impatient people angry having to wait for me
I always back into my spot at our condo, because the lot is tight (there are tandem stalls designed for a pair of Prius parked bumper to bumper opposite my stall than often have a couple F350s in them) and it's way easier to back in than out. I rarely do it in parking lots, though. DH always backs the truck in, but he's pretty quick at it. Again, it's a case of it being easier/safer to back in than out.
I always back in at the GO train parking lot just because in the rush to get out, it's a lot easier to just pull straight out. I also don't understand why people take so long to do so. If you do it all the time, it's a breeze. At our old place I used to even back into our one-car garage.
15 Jan 2012 9:37 PM
1 Jan 2010
BornToLove
Unregistered
0
I used to back in a lot pre-DD. I found it faster and easier. Once she came along, I needed trunk access (stroller) so I would mostly pull in. We use the stroller half the time now, so I could back in when were not using it. However cars in Australia drive on the right side and Im not comfortable steering a reversing car from the passanger side
I find that a lot of people just don't know how to back in and therefore take their time because they're nervous. Honestly, once I started backing into spots it became like second nature. It's just normal for me now.
15 Jan 2012 9:42 PM
13 Aug 2006
Calgary, Alberta
cherryblossom
Postaholic
6,605
I read that it is safer as well. Makes sense. Backing into a stall, versus backing into possible traffic.
I don't back in though. I don't perform well under pressure.
15 Jan 2012 9:46 PM
19 Sep 2008
Beautiful BC!
jitterbug
Addict
3,716
All the time.
I drive a larger SUV now but I did this even when I drove my little Yaris. I find it easier to drive straight out when I'm leaving and takes me maybe 8 seconds longer to back in than to drive in, so I don't see it being a big deal.
I'll drive straight in if I'm shopping and will have lots of bags or will need access to the trunk.
15 Jan 2012 10:30 PM
9 Aug 2010
Sask
Mrs_P
Raving Lunatic
14,514
Yup as others have said. It's much easier to back in to a tight spot (tighter turning radius going backwards) and it's safer for exiting the spot. That being said I hardly ever do it just because I'm not usually dealing with tight spots.
15 Jan 2012 10:32 PM
18 Jul 2006
Dazed
Postaholic
8,516
If I think it will be a rush to get out (like at a hockey game) then I'll back in. If I'm just getting groceries I won't because I have all the time in the world.
15 Jan 2012 10:41 PM
2 Apr 2007
Calgary
babydaze
Addict
4,635
I don't but I could if I wanted to. I remember practising with my dad as a teenager. He'd bring trash cans to an empty parking lot and make me back in between them over and over. LOL I can also parallel park thanks to the same practice. Thanks Dad!
15 Jan 2012 10:45 PM
28 Jun 2004
Unknown
Anonymous472
Unknown
1,899
I back in when I am parking to pick up the kids from preschool. I worry about the little ones in the parking lot and much prefer to see them than to miss one while I`m backing out.
31 Oct 2012 11:59 PM
30 Apr 2012
buzzle.ca
buzzle
New Member
0
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15 Jan 2012 10:49 PM
9 Jan 2012
*Serenity*
Rookie
95
I do it every day when I go into work. It literally takes me two seconds. It is easier to get out and in. I don't do it everywhere, but I honestly don't think it takes me a long time at all. Nor have I noticed it takes people a long time to do this either. Also I have lived in Metropolitan cities most of my life never a small town. I guess just a lot of bad drivers around ya? lol
15 Jan 2012 11:26 PM
9 Oct 2008
Victoria, BC
jasey
Devotee
1,676
I mostly back into spots. I'm fairly quick though, and I actually had a compliment on my backing in skills from an older lady at the grocery store the other day
I just find that people zoom around crazily in parking spots when you're trying to back OUT of the spot later, and I'd rather not get in a fender bender.
I don't really notice people taking a long time to do it, or that they're country folk (you think they'd be good at backing up, no?). But it could be just as frustrating waiting for someone to back OUT of a spot as it is waiting for them to back IN!
15 Jan 2012 11:48 PM
7 Aug 2010
Vegreville, AB
Beaker
WB Devotee
1,370
Yesterday at Walmart, I went to take a narrow stall, figuring my rinkydink little car wouldn't have a problem with it, but nope, too tight! Had I tried backing in, I probably could have. Mind you, on that same maneuver, I noticed an open spot behind and to the left of me, so I did a zigzag backing maneuver and got my spot anyway. Huzzah for backing!
15 Jan 2012 11:57 PM
31 Aug 2006
all over the place
lilybellule
Postaholic
8,978
DH does because he is good at it, but I don't because I suck at it.
16 Jan 2012 1:22 AM
17 Aug 2008
She
Devotee
1,229
I always back into my parking stall in the parkade at work. I used to pull in but stopped after almost getting hit a few times while trying to back out at the end of the day.
It doesn't take me any time at all the back into my parking spots as I do it so often. But I have noticed how annoyed the person behind me gets as the try to speed around me.
Those are the same people generally that park like idiots when they pull into their parking stalls.
I also have to back into my parking stall in our parkade at home because I park next to a wall, and the people that park beside me and across from me have huge vehicles that make it tough to back out of.
If i'm at the mall or the grocery store, i decide whether to back in or pull into the parking stall based on the spots available.
16 Jan 2012 1:31 AM
28 Feb 2009
BC
Barkles
Addict
3,082
I usually back in, unless I'm pulling out the stroller or planning to buy/load lots of stuff.
It's a new thing for me though. Our driveway is so steep I can't safely back out of it because the car is at such an angle you literally can't see the road. So I've gotten pretty good at backing in since we moved!!!
16 Jan 2012 6:04 AM
20 Mar 2006
GTA
Aquablue
Postaholic
5,785
I took Young Drivers of Canada eons ago, we were taught to ALWAYS back into parking spots. Always. Even my friends who took other driver training, they were taught the same thing.
What did you learn when you took lessons
I still do back in, but if I am in a big parking lot, I look for "drive-thrus" , like my Grandma taught me
16 Jan 2012 6:43 AM
21 Sep 2011
Halifax
blueskyebride
WB Chatterbox
258
My Papa always told me that the safest way to move in a vehicle is forward, and this includes coming out of a parking lot. I hate backing out in busy parking lots with tons of pedestrians. I wouldn't want to risk hitting someone or another car. I've also become a pro at backing up our Toyota Tacoma (standard) in our condo parking lot which is very very awkward, so I feel more confident doing it elsewhere.
That being said, FH and I pretty much always back in, or find those pull-through spots. We're also those people who drive to the end of the parking lot and walk a million miles to the mall or store just so we can back in or pull through.
16 Jan 2012 6:46 AM
1 Jan 2010
Reborn2011
Unregistered
0
At an Occupational health and safety training thing I went to, they advocated doing this. (I do not and am impatient for those who do, nonetheless). There are apparently even some businesses in my city which make this mandatory for staff in their parking lots.
I also am a drivethru kinda gal. I have horrible spatial recognition (which is actually gender related) and suck at backing in.
16 Jan 2012 8:06 AM
1 Jan 2010
Marlynmik
Unregistered
0
I almost always back in to any parking spot if I can't drive straight through (which is my preference - I like to park away from other vehicles anyways because many people are inconsiderate when they open their doors). The way I see it, I have a better view of my surroundings as I'm pulling up to the spot rather than trying to back out.
16 Jan 2012 8:30 AM
20 Oct 2003
Ontario
MrsG2004
Devotee
2,307
I always back in! I will pull through if there is a spot available. I personally find it easier than backing out later.
I will usually back in and especially at work in the parking garage.
Reasons being:
- I drive a van. It's a big vehicle and easier to drive straight out instead of backing out.
- It's a ton safer to drive out since a bigger vehicle has bigger blind spots
- The parking garage is a tight squeeze getting in and out. I back in so I'm not doing a 20-point turn to get out of the spot.
- People speed through the parking lot at crazy speeds. I'm more likely to see someone coming if I'm facing out than in.
But I guess I need to ask, what's the difference between taking the time to back in or taking the time to back out?? Should someone like me be irate with you for wasting my time while you back out of the spot?
No. Sorry but I think you and your husband are being irrational.
I don't get upset with people parking either way so I'm not irrational. I have patience. I supposed you need to learn to have some.
I find people in general are too impatient about everything.
Deep breath and just allow people to park, be it forward or back.
16 Jan 2012 10:07 AM
30 Aug 2009
_Kate_
Devotee
2,317
Tanky, I took my drivers training in AB too (rural AB, so I'm the 'country folk' you refer to...) and I don't remember backing in being taught in Driver's Ed either.
When I am driving a car I rarely back in, because it's usually easy to find a good parking stall with plenty of room in a car. However, most of the time I'm driving a truck, and truck's are not as easy to park as a car, nor are they as easy to blindly back out, and so I tend to back in with my truck. Also, I don't tend to park in the congested area of parking lots in the truck if I can avoid it. At least in Edmonton, there's almost always a 'truck alley' of some sort in a large parking lot, so I back in with the other 60 pick ups. Haha!
Also, with trucks I prefer to back in somewhere that I can hang the box of the truck over the concrete of a parking spot, because when I forward park into a spot with some type of low, concrete barrier in front of me, the box of my truck is further than I, or anyone else, would like it to be into the driving area. I 'fit better' into those types of stalls when I back in.
16 Jan 2012 10:22 AM
24 May 2009
Durham Region, ON
DayDreamer
Devotee
1,638
Sometimes. I figure it's a skill that I was tested on to get my license, so it's a skill that needs a bit of brushing up once in a while. I don't ever do it if there's another car trying to get past me though, specifically because I know that I'm always rusty when I do it.
16 Jan 2012 10:35 AM
13 Aug 2008
Ottawa
MrsMS
Devotee
2,040
I never do if I have to have easy access to the trunk - aka: grocery shopping.
Usually I'm too lazy to back in, but I do on occasion. I prefer to drive straight through, but I don't have strong feelings about this topic either way.
16 Jan 2012 10:55 AM
13 Aug 2002
Toronto
FriendsFirst
Queen of the Forum
28,628
Eons ago, I did YD training... I remember them stating that driving out of a parking spot or driveway was far prefereable, but I don't recall ever actually being required to do it or practicing it.
I'm curious, though... someone suggested that their vehicle has a much tighter turning radius going forward than in reverse... How is that possible? The gear doesn't impact the wheel lock point, so if the wheels can turn to the same angle either way, and the angle of the wheels dictates the radius of the turning circle, it'd be the same regardless of direction of travel... unless you're simply not turning the wheel as far in reverse?
I rarely reverse in, but will often park further away to get a 'drive through' spot. DH will often revers in. The chances of us reversing in, though, increase with the business of the parking lot and the relative density of vans/trucks/SUVs... the more big things with heavily tinted and/or solid, blunt, non-tapered ends, the more we DON'T want to be trying to reverse into an aisle blind (we also get a lot of people driving through parking lots in our area as if they own them and are the only vehicle with any right to move... not a whole lot of "I'll wait for you to back out of your space, and then I can take it" going on, much more "How dare you try to get out of your spot (regardless of which way you're facing) while I'm trying to use this parking lot to get around a traffic light?!"
In ON, one of the points they may score you on with your G2 road test (I think it's called G1 exit test) is backing into a parking spot. I remember my examiner telling me that I wasn't tested on it since I had parked backed in to begin with.
It isn't common to test on this but it is one of the possible items on the list. I know parallel parking and 3-pt turns are also on the list but for both my road tests, I was only tested for 3-pt turns and then regular driving issues. I think I also had to make an emergency stop on the highway for the G test (G2 exit test).
When I took Driver's Ed (not with YD), learning to back in is something that was taught.
16 Jan 2012 10:59 AM
7 Nov 2011
bottom of the glass
Probably Drunk
Devotee
1,992
I learned to back into parking spots in drivers ed. but it was never stressed as a 'You should for safety' it was 'You should know how to do this in case you ever need to'. We also did a ton of driving backwards in empty parking lots.
16 Jan 2012 11:33 AM
17 Jun 2010
NelleK
Devotee
1,360
I just did my G1 exit test (yes, never did it as I moved away to a city and never had a car or reason to do the test) last month and because it snowed and there were no cars on the street (test was early am) I could not do a parallel parking so I had to back into a stall.
Oddly enough I enjoy parallel parking more than backing into a stall. I can do it better if there is a car next to me but if I have to look backwards for the lines, I am always RIGHT on the line and never center in the stall!
YD in ontario teaches you that its much safer if that is your only option to back in rather than backing out.
It annoys me MORE when someone is driving dangerously without the thought of safety to others than it is for someone who is being slower for safety.
I also do not think ONE minute its the longest wait ever...
16 Jan 2012 12:03 PM
1 Jan 2010
Marlynmik
Unregistered
0
At our local driving school office, ALL the cars in the lot are backed in.
They put a lot of emphasis on backing in being much more safe than backing out of a stall.
16 Jan 2012 12:05 PM
30 Dec 2009
wildred
Addict
3,994
I try to back in as often as possible because I don't like backing out into traffic. Plus I drive a truck and it is so much easier to back in then pull in!
All company vehicles in my town are required to back into parking spots so most drivers are pretty good at it and used to waiting for other people to back in.
16 Jan 2012 12:16 PM
23 Jun 2005
Mississauga, ON
melmo
Devotee
1,758
If you learned to drive in AB, you wouldn't have learned this in drivers ed considering it's against the law there. Which is why it probably annoys you Tanky.
16 Jan 2012 12:26 PM
13 Aug 2008
Ottawa
MrsMS
Devotee
2,040
I did Young Drivers for my drivers ed and they definitely really stressed backing in and how much safer it it. I recall always being required to back into parking spots during classes.
16 Jan 2012 12:27 PM
17 Feb 2008
maimou
Devotee
1,575
DH backs in most of the time. I mostly look for spots where I can pull through.
31 Oct 2012 11:59 PM
30 Apr 2012
buzzle.ca
buzzle
New Member
0
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