1y ago

People who back into parking spots: Why?

To me, it seems objectively easier to pull into a parking space forward and then back out of the space when you are ready to leave. You don't have to line up with the lines while driving backwards, and it's easier to keep from hitting other cars as well. So why back in? To me, the only advantage I can think of is that you can get out quicker, technically.

Edit: I do not need driving instruction, just wondered why. The reasoning.

You're viewing a single thread.

239 comments

When you back into a spot, you have way more visibility leaving than you would backing out
- All sorts of crazy stuff happens in parking areas. When someone pulls kamikaze-style parking maneuvers, you a really don’t want that to happen behind you where it’s difficult to see what’s going on.
- My current car is my first car that has a backup camera, and I actually find it much easier to see backing out of a space with the camera’s wide field of view.
  Driving forward, especially in a sensible normal-sized sedan, your view can easily be blocked by someone’s giant Suburban on your left and Billybob’s overcompensating pickup truck on your right, both of which always come with shit parking jobs. Your best chance is to very slowly inch forward and hope any oncoming drivers notice the front of your car moving into the lane before your windows clear the taller vehicles.
  But the backup camera sees 180 degrees from the bumper, so you can always see traffic in both directions well before any part of your car might get in anyone’s way.
  
  I can't imagine a reverse camera being a better alternative to looking out the front windscreen - sure it being a bit further forward then your seating position and wide angle might give it a bit extra visibility around close objects, but it definitely does not offset the advantage of a natural ~200 degree field of view - and that is before you move your eyes or swivel your head. This is much much more valuable particularly for faster moving objects (which are a greater problems).
  That said I may be biased because my current vehicle has rear front and side cameras so I get the best of both worlds!
  
  I didn't know they made cars with a 180 degree back camera. Usually like 120 so you can't see pretty much anything that isn't directly behind you.
  
  Hondas have 3 views, at least on my 2020 Civic and wife’s 2023 HRV.
  “Wide” is for checking for vehicles, pedestrians, etc. when your view is obstructed on the sides (it’s probably more like 178, but I can see at least 200 ft down the sidewalk in both directions when backing out of my driveway, including beyond my neighbor’s overgrown bushes.) The picture is skewed on the sides though.
  “Regular” is undistorted for maneuvering and seeing directly behind you. This is like the default mode you’d expect to see.
  “Top-down” shows about 3-4 ft of the pavement below/behind the car for backing up close to walls, parking barriers, other parked cars, etc.
  You change them with touchscreen buttons. All of them have guidelines and distance markers that move with the steering wheel.
  
  My jetta has 120 degree view camera, but 180 degree object sensor, and the sensor literally screams at you before the camera can even process the visuals
- You certainly have more visibility when leaving but you have less visibility when backing into a confined space.
  I am on the fence on this. Our office had zero accidents in fifteen years diving in but three backing in dings in the three years since encouraged. Hit a Bobcat, hit a trailer and hit one of the employee trucks.
  On the fence because possibly it is more of our office. There is no thru traffic as a private location and there is a fair amount of room to back out where as the parking is relatively tight.
  
  When backing into a spot, you can predict that there shouldn't be anything behind you. But you should always check your blind spots. I kind of cheat though because I have a backup camera
  
  Possibly it is statically better when dealing with busy and tight parking locations. Ie. Malls or tight office complexes etc. Might be no benefits in low traffic locations where the yard is large enough that strait in driving is easy and backing out is into a fairly open space. Such as my location.
  My guys choose to do back in parking after the oil industry started to suggest it in safety meetings. I didn't really care what option they chose but with the three accidents in a short period, no longer sure backing in is safer in all situations.

239 comments