It’s such a pain around here, especially with all the gigantic SUVs. I sometimes can’t see anything down the lanes when I start backing out and have to just go sloooowly and hope people will either honk or stop while I am completely blind.

I personally always let people finish backing out because we want to keep those spaces turning over, not turn the parking lot into complete gridlock.

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 the right answer. It's the same reason I don't let in a driver at a stop sign if I don't have one. Wait your turn.

Anonymous wrote:While the person driving through the parking lot as the right of way, the truth is that it takes two people to contribute to an accident. In a defense driving class the advice given was just to assume that the person backing out cannot see/is not going to yield and stop and let them finish backing out. That is the responsible thing to do. Unfortunately most people are not responsible.

This. You can be technically right and risk an accident or you can be courteous and yield, thereby avoiding getting hit by someone who couldn’t necessarily see you. It’s like when you’re a pedestrian. A pediatrician has the right of way, but it’s still a terrible idea to step off the curb, into the path of oncoming traffic when it’s dark outside and the driver has shown no sign of yielding. Even when you’re in the right, you still need to exercise caution.

Anonymous wrote:If you're backing up it's safer for me to just let you finish rather than risk a miscommunication and a crash.

If I'm backing out and someone is approaching rather rapidly, I switch my car back to park so that they can see I'm not still in reverse, and I let them go on their way. This is rare though as I'm zippy at backing out and tend to avoid congested lots.

No need to kill your transmission. Breaking and the brake light will indicate to the other driver your have stopped reversing

While the person driving through the parking lot as the right of way, the truth is that it takes two people to contribute to an accident. In a defense driving class the advice given was just to assume that the person backing out cannot see/is not going to yield and stop and let them finish backing out. That is the responsible thing to do. Unfortunately most people are not responsible.

If you're backing up it's safer for me to just let you finish rather than risk a miscommunication and a crash.

If I'm backing out and someone is approaching rather rapidly, I switch my car back to park so that they can see I'm not still in reverse, and I let them go on their way. This is rare though as I'm zippy at backing out and tend to avoid congested lots.

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. It doesn’t matter if it’s a crappy attitude or not…it is the correct answer to OP’s question.

If you’re already backing up I’ll absolutely stop. It how my parents taught me. Plus I want your spot. 😉

You should be backing up slowly and attentively enough that this isn’t an issue.

Anonymous wrote:

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, the driver backing out should stop immediately. Follow the rules!

If a car is halfway out of a space, they should stop because another car is approaching? The backing out car is necessarily going much more slowly than the approaching car, so is at a disadvantage there. What’s wrong with the approaching car stopping and allowing the car to pack out fully?

Because PP. Rules are set to follow by everyone by making sure everyone is on the same page. Everyone has different ability to process information at that moment - some are better than others. If I were driving down, I'd definitely assume you (backing out) will stop and let me pass. I may let you out first but that's my call, not yours. Until then, yes, you have to stop backing out.

Anonymous wrote:I always thought the Maryland law said that if the car was already in the process of backing up that you had to wait for them to back out of the space. Maybe this was an old law because I just looked and there’s nothing in the manual about that. I always stop for backing cars.

A voice of reason.

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, the driver backing out should stop immediately. Follow the rules!

Those of us who don’t have back up cameras can only look in one direction at a time. If I’m backing out to my right, I’m look to my right, in the direction I’m driving. Don’t expect me to see you approaching from my left. I won’t even start to back out if a car is driving in the aisle, but I don’t have eyes in the back of my head to see cars approaching when I’m 2/3 of the way through backing out.

I always thought the Maryland law said that if the car was already in the process of backing up that you had to wait for them to back out of the space. Maybe this was an old law because I just looked and there’s nothing in the manual about that. I always stop for backing cars.

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, the driver backing out should stop immediately. Follow the rules!

If a car is halfway out of a space, they should stop because another car is approaching? The backing out car is necessarily going much more slowly than the approaching car, so is at a disadvantage there. What’s wrong with the approaching car stopping and allowing the car to pack out fully?

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, the driver backing out should stop immediately. Follow the rules!