Parking Style: Front in or Back in?

[Cloud]

thing is, my apartment rules specifically state that you are to park nose in, and most places where I've seen parking regulations set out also state this. Why?

I question the "safer" concept, really. Unless it's safer because the driver is too lazy to look behind him, in which case it's the driver's fault anyway. Who's to say they would see cars coming toward them facing forward? Plus, backing in to park between two other parked cars is a much trickier maneuver to pull off and raises the potential for scrapes and dings.

Just a bit of a bitter pill here, because parking is tight at my place, so I frequently get stuck between two large face-out vehicles. So these people are exhibiting their flashy vehicles by flouting the rules. Like little boys getting away with stealing candy.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Cloud

If my little car is emerging from two larger vehicles on either side, and I don't see a car coming, I'm gonna get creamed either way. And I'd rather it be my ass that was reamed.

Nose first, it's much easier to see the car coming.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Cloud

Just a bit of a bitter pill here, because parking is tight at my place, so I frequently get stuck between two large face-out vehicles.

I think its just a personal preference for the most part. What difference does it make which way the car in the spot next to you is facing? You are parking between two white lines. They could both be tanks for all it matters. Just park your car between the lines and go about your day.

[Cloud]

aggravating fuckers.

I mean people who don't park between the lines, of course.

[classicman]

Now thats a totally different issue - I make sure that I park so close to them they couldn't fit the key into the door lock. That way they can crawl through their passenger side to get into their car.

[Shawnee123]

I think half the time it's showing off. "Look what I can do." Ii can do it too, I just wait until I'm leaving so that at least if I am holding up traffic they get a parking space out of the deal. But then, I don't mind parking in BFE to avoid all the numnuts. Then you have the people who pull forward in diagonal parking so they are facing the wrong way when they leave.

I guess it all messes with my OCD need for symmetry and direction.

[Cicero]

Shawnee.......what the hell...I'm disappointed. Certainly you can find a joke for this thread title?!? Jeez the door is wide open here Shawnee!!

Ok. Who has taken over Shawnee's account?!?

[Shawnee123]

Shawnee is being held ransom in an undisclosed location. You must place 1 million in unmarked bills underneath the magnolia tree next to the Cellar at midnight next Saturday. Do not contact authorities (read: they're in on it.) If you fail to comply with my demands, Shawnee will be drawn and quartered in the Cellar courtyard the following Sunday. Refreshments will be served, and you can show off your dancing skills to the music stylings of DJ Jazzy Toad and the Fresh Posts. There will be a silent auction for Shawnee's effects (basically a jar of peanut butter and a couple cats) to offset costs. Bring the family!

[tw]

By far, the most dangerous way to enter into moving traffic is to back out. 'Back out' visibility is near zero, driver is in the worst location to see oncoming traffic. Driver's peripheral vision is always obscured in at least one direction when backing out into traffic. And then are owners so silly as to have a $400 wing that does nothing but further obstruct rear visibility. Those cars must enter traffic going forward.

Backing into a parking space is no more difficult that forward parking. When are kids most often harmed by the moving vehicle? When it backs out. A frequent problem for SUVs that have no rear visibility. Zero. The safest time to back up is when the entire parking location has been completely observed clearly before backing up. Worst time to back up is after a vehicle has been sitting there. Driver has no idea of everything around it. Latter is when a backing SUV kill most kids.

Some locations do not want backup parking because car exhaust (when warming or just starting) is directed at building windows.

Finally, the most damage when pulling out after a snow storm is to back out over snow. Cars are generally constructed so that snow mounds do least if any harm when moving forward. I rarely shovel snow. I park to drive the car forward over snow. A technique that is difficult if backing out without shoveling.

Just a few reasons and recommendations for backing into parking spaces: for significant safety and for getting out of snow plow piles without shoveling. Safety reasons being so significant that I wonder how often those who back into traffic accept those near misses as routine - as if failure was acceptable.

[Shawnee123]

And it looks cool, too!

[monster]

Originally Posted by Cloud

Certainly I can see if you are unloading something and need to be closer, that's one thing. I honestly don't get why it's safer to back in. In fact, if you are backing out into a parking lot, you have more room to maneuver, so I would think it would be less safe.

I'm suspicious, you see, since it's usually big trucks with lots of chrome or some kind of flashy car.

As others have said, going into the space, the objects you are maneuveriing between are not moving. When you come out, they are and it helps to be able to see them better, as well as driving forwards presumably being your better direction. Also, you stand a better chance of seeing the toddler who decides to amble in front of your car just as you start moving.

As for why your complex says front end in -do you have front licence plates?

Your comments about needing more room to maneuver and getting creamed anyway make me very glad you don't live near me and drive the same streets. Perhaps you should consider an advanced driving course to increase your confidence and ability. That bit was serious

[Cloud]

well, I've never been creamed yet. At least not that way!

My state has front and rear license plates. If it's so damn safe, then why do all parking regulations I see specify nose in?

[monster]

probably the fumes thing like tw says.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by tw

A frequent problem for SUVs that have no rear visibility. Zero.

Minivans and pickup trucks are even worse (30ft blind spot on some pickups). Back up cameras work very well to correct the problem though. I had no problem seeing out of the back of my Grand Cherokee, but can't see fuck all in the Commander - especially with the 3rd row up.

I never back in, I find it much easier to back out than in.

[monster]

The good things in life are never easy