Back-In Parking

[Don]

Which brings up an interesting point: many parking garages prohibit backing into a parking spot (because of exhaust marks on the walls), even though it is the safer way of parking.

An age old debate, to be sure - Many municipalities prohibit back in parking even in places where there is no wall to be soiled because they consider it less safe - It is banned in tons of places with no walls, so that can't be the primary reason

When you back out, you have all sorts of room while backing in, you're trying to center the car in a space only 3 or 4 feet wider than the car. Backing in takes longer and many who use that method drive forward so fast when leaving that accident statistics show about the same number of accidents as those who are backing out and they are moving much slower - Also, the back-up lights warn other motorists that someone is about to leave the space and you don't get that heads up when someone pulls out suddenly going forward

About mid-way through my 20 year USAF career, the government banned back in parking anywhere and everywhere. Their accident statistics were very clear that it was the more dangerous option. Partly because of the habit that ban created I suppose, I've always made it a point to never back in, though I do use the 'drive through' option wherever possible so I can drive forward leaving without ever having to back up, coming or going

Don

[tigger19687]

" though I do use the 'drive through' option wherever possible so I can drive forward leaving without ever having to back up, coming or going "

Ahhh, but then, technically, you ARE backed in

[jsantala]

The real reason is that you're obviously a criminal committing robbery if you need to make sure you can get away as fast as you can. Either that, or a criminal trying to make yourself harder to keep track of in places where you only have a license plate in the rear, so the cops driving by can't keep an eye for license plates. In any case you must be a public enemy and probably a communist too.

[JoeS]

Thought I'd move our recent discussion into its own Topic, into the Off Topic forum.

To park going in Forwards, or to park going in Backwards, that is the question…

We do it both ways, with my wife going in forwards, and me backing up. Note that one of the Sparrows next to the i-MiEV is also backed-in, but that has more to do with it's single-door placement on its right side.



Ah, Don, two-and-a-half years later, we continue to agree to disagree. The discussion starts with the placement of our charging port and drifts into a discussion of how we park. For those of you who are new to this forum, here's one of the previous discussions which started out as to why I like our i-MiEV's charging port location:

viewtopic.php?p=2652#p2652

The reasons haven't changed, but the Internet is full of supporting arguments for each side. Adding fuel to the fire and using the Safety argument, my current favorite is this UPS post:

http://blog.ups.com/2013/03/01/what-bac ... y-culture/

Quote: "...it’s safer to back into the controlled environment of an empty parking space than it is to back out into the less controlled environment of a parking lot."

Flamesuit on.

[jsantala]

Yes, it's recommended to back in, because it is considered to be safer. Also, at least here in Finland, the one leaving a parking spot is responsible in a crash, so you're better off if you back in and drive forward when leaving. Generally I don't back in, though, for no particular reason, except maybe procrastination... On the DCQC slots you need to back-in with the C-Zero, of course, unless you have free space next to the post so you can drive through a little. Couple of unorthodox parkings by your's truly...

[jsantala]

As a bonus, here's a spot I found, which was obviously made for a MiEV:

[misterbleepy]

Quote: "...it’s safer to back into the controlled environment of an empty parking space than it is to back out into the less controlled environment of a parking lot."

Flamesuit on.

This is the first time I have ever heard of anywhere that has laws regarding what direction people can park in - especially when the law prevents the (in my opinion) safer way of parking - backing in every time for me if I can (or a drive through).

[johnr]

I never used to back in to park, but since I got the i-Miev that has changed! Now I almost always back in to my driveway and to public charging spots. Why? Because the charging port on this car is toward the rear so it reaches much easier if I back in. I've quickly gotten used to it, and now it doesn't really matter to me one way or the other.

[jray3]

I'm a big fan of reverse angle parking. Mabe just to rub LEAFs the wrong way!
http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPW/Rebui ... rking.aspx

[JoeS]

I'm a big fan of reverse angle parking. Mabe just to rub LEAFs the wrong way!

+1 Having experienced this in Australia, this technique provides an even-more significant safety measure when pulling out into traffic, even better than when backed in perpendicularly to the curb. Anyone who can't back into a spot like this should not be driving!