Debate: Reverse in or reverse out.
 

I love these little debates. It's interesting how polarized people become about such mundane things.

My approach is to always reverse into the space so you can just drive out. Justification is a balance on risk.

When reversing into a space the area where hazards might appear is much smaller and much less likely. People walking behind you, the parked car either side of you moving off or someone getting in/out of one of them. These things are fairly rare and easy to spot and happen within the space where your attention is anyway.

When reversing out of a parking space the area hazards can appear from and their likelihood increases a lot. You might have cars crossing behind you on the car park access road, other cars parking and reversing around outside your space. Pedestrians are far more likely to be walking to/from their cars down the access way than through the cars and standing in spaces.

Reversing your view is more limited than going fowards, so use forwards when the risk is highest.

So reverse in, drive out.

Besides, it's easier to reverse into the space, especially if it's narrow.

I look for what I call a "Johny Pull Through". Essentially I find two front to back open spaces. Pull in forward all the way through so I can just pull out forward when I leave.

As a defensive driving instructor through my company, the Smith driving system says pull through is best, back in if no pull through available.

I typically pull through as well. I also try to park next to a curb whenever possible.

It really depends on where I'm parking. Reversing in to a spot isn't always ideal, depending on what I'm going to be parking next to.

Parking next to any cars at all is always something I try to avoid.

I pull through whenever possible, otherwise reverse in. Only exception being in my apartment parking spot, I forward in because I share the spot with my bike and need to angle it just right.

I agree if there are two spaces facing each other, drive through one, into the other. It still leaves the issue of narrow spaces and access roads, it can be tricky to get the cut. You would find it extremely difficult (but not impossible) to forward park into my home space. The car has to be straight as soon as it enters due to it being narrow with a large post on one side of the entrance and the neighbours car on the other.

My work space is worse, car has to be perfectly straight before reversing in as it's between iron gate posts which give me only 1 inch off each wheel arch. Not looking forward to it in the dark or when there is frost on the path I'm reversing over!

One arguement FOR backing into spaces.

If you BACK your car into a tall parking block - No problem.

If you pull FORWARD into a tall parking block: Time to buy a new front spoiler.
I back my car into the driveway and my air dam doesnt drag

Was just editing a video from my GoPro and thought I'd grab this while I was there.

Normally there is a badly parked Golf or Mini One in the space to my left.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tudwPSHaNgQ"]Parking - YouTube[/ame]

If I back into spaces I have a harder time loading my trunk with stuff. Habit just has me pull forward and reverse out. I drive a car roughly the size of a thimble, so I'm used to being aware of my surroundings and watching for people blazing through a parking lot in a sea of SUVs and trucks where I feel like Ray Charles.
http://www.thehulltruth.com/attachme...antseeshit.jpg

Only reverse in if you're good at. I would say NO for most folks since most people can't even pull forward into a parking spot correctly.

I've always lived in shitty areas of town until i moved to NC and always pulled pulled forward (reverse out). The thought being that headlights are brighter then the tail lights and it'd be easier for me to spot someone trying to steal my car.

I usually use two spot for parking, reverse or forward doeant matter as long i can avoid door dings

For small garages, I park nose first with the FR-S. The trunk is much higher than the nose -- when people are reversing from their spots in their SUVs, they have a better chance of seeing the FR-S's trunk than its nose behind them.

At least, that's how I justify it.

I'm comfortable parking either way though. With larger cars, I'll usually back into the spot.