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.

I do the pull through when convenient but rarely due to the idea of visibility when coming out of a parking space. Generally speaking most of the places I park, getting in quickly is of a higher priority than getting out, people are so relieved to find a convenient space they will wait 10 minutes for you to load up your stuff and slowly back out at your leisure. Not to mention the most dangerous places in terms of parking lot accidents (i.e. confined crowded mall parking) good luck having space behind you to back up into a spot.

The only close calls I've had when backing out are when someone else is backing out on the other side and literally can't see me because they're in an SUV or truck.

And I think rice is right, most people have a hard enough time pulling into spaces, and are even worse at reversing.

If I have enough time and room, I'll usually reverse in. I'll usually pull forward or pull through if I'm in a congested parking lot or if people are behind me.

I pull in, through, or back in depending how my mood strikes me.

It's easy when you know how to actually park.

Depends what I'm doing and how busy the lot is.

Grocery shopping in pull in forward since I know I'll be unloading a cart into the trunk.

Aside from that I'll pull through if possible, pull in if not. Backing out isn't hard, probably easier than backing in.

Depends on the spot for me.

I park in the manner where I want to drive out forward. Generally it means reversing in, I prefer to have an optimal view when leaving a parking space. Many times I've had to re-park vehicles that were driven in, requiring backing out, it sucked especially when it was a 8 ft box, crew cab pickup truck. It doesn't help when I'm reversing a car out but its between massive SUVs, suddenly you're even more prone to hitting pedestrians or other vehicles simply because your view is so terrible. Add that modern rear windscreens are smaller than they've ever been as far as view goes hence why suddenly we need rear view cameras, add the massive C-pillars of some cars and you got tunnel vision.

Spent some time delivering mail.

Regulations were that backing up was only when necessary, always pull through, or back in.

With regard to backing in the general concept is that by having just pulled past to position yourself for backing in the situation is fresh in your mind and ideally unchanged, leading to less risk. The situation may be different when returning to your vehicle after doing whatever it is you're doing.

Think about how many mail carriers there are and how many stops a day they do. The rules are in place for a reason and they are effective. Most incidents occurred when deviating from the rules.

Was a valet for about a year before I finished college. Always back in. You actually have better control over the position your car ends up in when backing up than when pulling forward. Case in point: Parallel parking. You can't do it forwards if there is only one open spot.

If there are cars waiting behind me, pull straight into the spot. If there are no cars waiting behind me, pull straight into the spot. If there are no cars waiting, and the spot is centered on the exit path (basically a T intersection), I'll reverse in.

I'm used to reversing out. It's just second nature to me at this point.

I read somewhere that backing into a spot then just driving out saves on gas cause when the engine is cold its using more gas or something, and all the time spent reversing out of the spot when you could've just driven away is wasting more gas. No idea if it's true.

Due to the garage layout in my apartment I have to reverse my car in, and I have to start reversing from a very busy street where people love to speed. If I pull straight in then it's at least a 6-step, reverse, pull back a little, 1st gear, pull forward a little process. I should take video of it sometime because I can't believe I do it on a daily basis. It's definitely made me more aware of where my car is though, cause I put a bad dent into my BRZ pulling in one day and I still think about it every time I'm pulling in.

You all are crazy! Whenever I go to park, I find two spots as talked about in the "pull-through" but instead I back in from the first spot into the next... I'm gonna call it the "Reverse Through."
You'll be amazed at the looks you get!

I've read enough of your posts to know you prefer to pull out.

Been valeting for almost 3 years now through college. I can only back into spots. Its so much easier to monitor where you are just by looking at each of your side mirrors. You also have more control on how your car turns into the spot.

LMAO.


Only with you


Sure you read enough posts lol

promises, promises...

Already got a kid can't knock up another

Sometimes it's tough to find reverse.