Why is driving and parking so hard for so many people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Driving's an incredibly complex activity and it's actually shocking there aren't even more accidents. You are controlling a huge extension of your body, the edges of which you cannot see, that is moving faster than you ever could in nature and doesn't stop all that well. While you do this you must also watch all the people around you, sometimes using mirrors to do so, and also watch road signs and think about where you're going next. It's culturally normalized to pull this off while also eating, listening to the radio, or talking to somebody in the car (let's not mention texting). And while yes you should keep driving if you miss your turn, in this area that could easily add 15 minutes and we're all scheduled in smaller increments than that and stressed about it. It's frankly not a realistic expectation for the average brain and motor skills.

But just try suggesting that we should close roads to improve walking/biking, or change literally anything about jobs/zoning to minimize driving, and people lose their minds. We really really like our cars here.

Better 15 minutes than dead. I have NO patience for dangerous people who ask to be let in at the last minute. Don't enable this behavior. Doing so makes the roads more dangerous. It is ok to miss your turn/exit 10000% of the time.

[Anonymous]

It is not lack of drivers ed in school. It is distractions, lack of discipline in action, and self absorption/ self centered behaviors.

[Anonymous]

Because they have stupidly sized SUVs in a very urban area.

[Anonymous]

The bar to a drivier's license is very low, people consider it a fundamental right instead of the privilege it should be, reserved for people who can demonstrate actual competence as drivers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they have stupidly sized SUVs in a very urban area.

The number of people that drive big 3-row SUVs and pickup trucks in this area, that are all nearly empty 99% of the time, is absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People that back into parking spaces drive me bananas. We’re all have to wait while they make three attempts at it, and their car is still crooked.

People who back in are the same people who drive slow in the left lane, or slow down and stop in their lane, when the realize they're in the wrong lane and about to miss their turn or exit. Because it's all about them. Screw the rhythm.

I drive fast (faster than I should) on the left lane and back in on a single try - perfectly centered. The reason I back in is that there people who drive 35 through the parking lot, I can't see them backing out and they think they are awesome drivers. Backing in is my insurance policy against them. Even angled parking lanes those guys drive the opposite way and I lost my insurance policy here.

My trick to backing in? I had a good teacher who instilled which angle I need to be at for both backing in and parallel parking (though I lost practice here). Without a camera and using the side mirrors only I can do a good job backing in.

[Anonymous]

Too. many. people. on. phones.

[Anonymous]

Some people have the ability to be good drivers but lack the temperament. My DH is like this sometimes. He gets impatient. He knows how to drive well and I've seen him do it many times. And then he will do obnoxious things because he's annoyed by something like a car waiting for a more spacious gap to turn left, or cars slowing down before a light so that we have to stop for a light we might have made. I view these things as other drivers being cautious and they don't really bother me-- I am never in such a hurry that having to wait is a big deal. It's an extra minute or two. DH will get agitated even when we no reason to rush. I have to find him it's no big deal.

Driving can bring out people's worst qualities. Impatience, rudeness, aggression.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you are superior, OP.

Feel better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People that back into parking spaces drive me bananas. We’re all have to wait while they make three attempts at it, and their car is still crooked.

People who back in are the same people who drive slow in the left lane, or slow down and stop in their lane, when the realize they're in the wrong lane and about to miss their turn or exit. Because it's all about them. Screw the rhythm.

If you & the PP can’t back into parking spots just say that. My son can back into a parking spot, straight in one attempt. I can’t so therefore, I don’t do it.

Plus it’s safer when exiting from a parking spot to back in so you don’t hit any pedestrians in the parking lot that you can’t see while backing out the spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people have the ability to be good drivers but lack the temperament. My DH is like this sometimes. He gets impatient. He knows how to drive well and I've seen him do it many times. And then he will do obnoxious things because he's annoyed by something like a car waiting for a more spacious gap to turn left, or cars slowing down before a light so that we have to stop for a light we might have made. I view these things as other drivers being cautious and they don't really bother me-- I am never in such a hurry that having to wait is a big deal. It's an extra minute or two. DH will get agitated even when we no reason to rush. I have to find him it's no big deal.

Driving can bring out people's worst qualities. Impatience, rudeness, aggression.

People like your husband are rude and annoying. Why are you upset because the person in front of you is being cautious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People that back into parking spaces drive me bananas. We’re all have to wait while they make three attempts at it, and their car is still crooked.

People who back in are the same people who drive slow in the left lane, or slow down and stop in their lane, when the realize they're in the wrong lane and about to miss their turn or exit. Because it's all about them. Screw the rhythm.

If you & the PP can’t back into parking spots just say that. My son can back into a parking spot, straight in one attempt. I can’t so therefore, I don’t do it.

Plus it’s safer when exiting from a parking spot to back in so you don’t hit any pedestrians in the parking lot that you can’t see while backing out the spot.

It's not safer when you're actually backing into the spot. I never feel safe around people backing into a spot, when walking through a parking lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People that back into parking spaces drive me bananas. We’re all have to wait while they make three attempts at it, and their car is still crooked.

People who back in are the same people who drive slow in the left lane, or slow down and stop in their lane, when the realize they're in the wrong lane and about to miss their turn or exit. Because it's all about them. Screw the rhythm.

If you & the PP can’t back into parking spots just say that. My son can back into a parking spot, straight in one attempt. I can’t so therefore, I don’t do it.

Plus it’s safer when exiting from a parking spot to back in so you don’t hit any pedestrians in the parking lot that you can’t see while backing out the spot.

It's not safer when you're actually backing into the spot. I never feel safe around people backing into a spot, when walking through a parking lot.

Then you never feel safe. Someone is either backing in or backing out. Backing out they have cars on either side of them interfering with the ability to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bar to a drivier's license is very low, people consider it a fundamental right instead of the privilege it should be, reserved for people who can demonstrate actual competence as drivers.

+1

The test doesn't even include parallel parking anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People that back into parking spaces drive me bananas. We’re all have to wait while they make three attempts at it, and their car is still crooked.

People who back in are the same people who drive slow in the left lane, or slow down and stop in their lane, when the realize they're in the wrong lane and about to miss their turn or exit. Because it's all about them. Screw the rhythm.

If you & the PP can’t back into parking spots just say that. My son can back into a parking spot, straight in one attempt. I can’t so therefore, I don’t do it.

Plus it’s safer when exiting from a parking spot to back in so you don’t hit any pedestrians in the parking lot that you can’t see while backing out the spot.

It's not safer when you're actually backing into the spot. I never feel safe around people backing into a spot, when walking through a parking lot.

It is because the driver can see you more easily.

It's safer for everyone when drivers can see where they are going AKA backing into spots. It's difficult and many people can't master it so they complain about it. But, in reality, it's safer for everyone.