Drivers: if you see a car backing up, why do you just keep going?

[Anonymous]

My DH turned me onto backing into spaces and now I always do it. Or in a parking lot, finding a spot where you can pull straight through to the opposite spot so you can pull forward when you leave.

People are oblivious and dumb and make bad choices. You just have to accept this as a driver. I was taught to always drive defensively with the expectation that other people will make mistakes or bad choices and you need to put yourself in the best position to react to them. It's one of the best arguments against speeding actually. A lot of speeders will argue that they are great drivers and always in perfect control of their car because they mistakenly believe the rules of race courses apply to the rest of us. But you can be the best possible driver and have great reflexes and be paying close attention, and still be out of luck when the idiot in front of you slams on their breaks to try and make an exit they are passing. If you are going slower, you will have more time to react, change lanes, stop, or, worst case scenario, will hit them going slightly slower which can reduce the extent of your injuries as long as you are wearing a seatbelt.

This is also why I avoid driving when I can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I’m driving down a parking lot row, I have the right of way. You should not be backing up into a moving car. If you have already started backing out when I enter the row, I’ll stop and let you finish. The backer does not have the right of way though.

This is such a crappy attitude.

If you see that a car is backing up, why not just stop and let them finish backing up?

Society sucks because of people like this.

It is literally the rules of the road. Do not back up into traffic. Or people.

Being “polite” (i.e., unpredictable) is illegal and dangerous.

I’m not talking about backing up when a car is approaching.

If you’re in the middle of backing up and a car starts to approach, they should stop.

Yes, they should, but as the backer, you should assume they won't because if you back into them, it will be your fault.

[Anonymous]

Because I don’t care. They should’ve backed in.

[Anonymous]

While I don't mind people backing into spaces, they should do it when no-one is waiting to get by. Go nose in and then pull back out and park when the coast is clear.

DS and I go to soccer practice where there is a narrow road with spaces on either side, if someone in a huge 4x4 or suv wants to back in and do their whole 55 point approach a huge line of cars backs up of parents who just want to drop off and go!

[Anonymous]

I hate when I'm backing up and someone walks behind me. They may have the right of way but it's not worth a possible trip to the hospital to make a point. As I'm a driver myself, I always give people backing up the right of way.

What's even worse if when I'm driving in front of the store and there's a stop sign. I stop and let people cross safely. However, when I move of I often have people that just exit the store without looking where they are going and expect me to slam on my brakes while they casually stroll by on their cell phones, pushing a cart with their kid sitting in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I’m driving down a parking lot row, I have the right of way. You should not be backing up into a moving car. If you have already started backing out when I enter the row, I’ll stop and let you finish. The backer does not have the right of way though.

+1 op and dimwit drivers need to obey the rules.

I do agree about people continuing to walk past a backing car as if they had a death wish.

[Anonymous]

Lane driver should be going slow enough that backing up drivers have plenty of time to complete. Parking lots in general should be much slower with its mix of pedestrians and children and cars in an loosely defined space.

But my takeaway from this thread: always back in and know no one is going to be courteous and let you finish backing out, so screw all of them and back in and then drive out with a flourish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I’m driving down a parking lot row, I have the right of way. You should not be backing up into a moving car. If you have already started backing out when I enter the row, I’ll stop and let you finish. The backer does not have the right of way though.

This is such a crappy attitude.

If you see that a car is backing up, why not just stop and let them finish backing up?

Society sucks because of people like this.

Please be sure to write your congressman about this concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I’m driving down a parking lot row, I have the right of way. You should not be backing up into a moving car. If you have already started backing out when I enter the row, I’ll stop and let you finish. The backer does not have the right of way though.

This is such a crappy attitude.

If you see that a car is backing up, why not just stop and let them finish backing up?

Society sucks because of people like this.

It is literally the rules of the road. Do not back up into traffic. Or people.

Being “polite” (i.e., unpredictable) is illegal and dangerous.

I’m not talking about backing up when a car is approaching.

If you’re in the middle of backing up and a car starts to approach, they should stop.

Yes, they should, but as the backer, you should assume they won't because if you back into them, it will be your fault.

I can only “back into” a stationary object so tour scenario doesn’t make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I’m driving down a parking lot row, I have the right of way. You should not be backing up into a moving car. If you have already started backing out when I enter the row, I’ll stop and let you finish. The backer does not have the right of way though.

This is such a crappy attitude.

If you see that a car is backing up, why not just stop and let them finish backing up?

Society sucks because of people like this.

Please be sure to write your congressman about this concern.

Your reply just reinforces the truth about your attitude problem. You make the world a worse place to live. Congrats.

[Anonymous]

It's because the person driving down the aisle has the right of way, but, let's be real, it's because that person is probably more important than anyone else there. This is DC, everyone sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I’m driving down a parking lot row, I have the right of way. You should not be backing up into a moving car. If you have already started backing out when I enter the row, I’ll stop and let you finish. The backer does not have the right of way though.

This is such a crappy attitude.

If you see that a car is backing up, why not just stop and let them finish backing up?

Society sucks because of people like this.

NP: driving is safer when we all follow the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I’m driving down a parking lot row, I have the right of way. You should not be backing up into a moving car. If you have already started backing out when I enter the row, I’ll stop and let you finish. The backer does not have the right of way though.

This is such a crappy attitude.

If you see that a car is backing up, why not just stop and let them finish backing up?

Society sucks because of people like this.

NP: driving is safer when we all follow the rules.

Actually it’s safer when people are considerate and negotiate carefully at every interaction. These rules embolden people to act without considering others because they have the “RIGHT” to do so

It’s a common traffic theory in Europe. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/22/world/europe/a-path-to-road-safety-with-no-signposts.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I’m driving down a parking lot row, I have the right of way. You should not be backing up into a moving car. If you have already started backing out when I enter the row, I’ll stop and let you finish. The backer does not have the right of way though.

This is such a crappy attitude.

If you see that a car is backing up, why not just stop and let them finish backing up?

Society sucks because of people like this.

NP: driving is safer when we all follow the rules.

Actually it’s safer when people are considerate and negotiate carefully at every interaction. These rules embolden people to act without considering others because they have the “RIGHT” to do so

It’s a common traffic theory in Europe. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/22/world/europe/a-path-to-road-safety-with-no-signposts.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Incorrect. If eveyone follows the rules everything is expexted and known. When someone deviates, accidents can happen.

[Anonymous]

Just back into the space. Then you can easily see to pull out when you leave. Besides being safer, it’s also faster than backing out when it’s time to leave.

People who pull into spaces without thinking tend to be very spontaneous, into instant gratification, and are very poor planners. They also tend to be bad savers and make poor financial decisions.

People who back in are methodical, have greater capacity for strategic thought, and are good savers and financially responsible.


Insurance companies have studied this at length.