Anonymous wrote:Have none of the backup haters here had the experience of having a car back out of a parking space when you're walking right there as a pedestrian, and having no idea whether they see you there or not? When a car is pulling forward out of a parking space where there are pedestrians, you can make eye contact. You generally know if they see you, and if you don't. That's been my experience, anyway. As a pedestrian, I feel much less secure when I'm in some grocery store parking lot trying to walk near a car that might be backing up, as opposed to one that's front-forward. I can see if anyone is in the car, and I can see if they see me, if they're pulling out of a space front forward as opposed to backing up. This isn't rocket science, guys.

I can see people better with my backup camera. It has a wide view. I drive a sedan and am often between two SUVs. When I'm front facing, I sometimes can't see around them on either side.

So for me, backing out with the camera, that also makes sounds and flashes at me if it detects things coming from either side, is much safer.

Anonymous wrote:Not reason 15 pages but here is your answer Op.

These are army vets. This is the way the military trains you - so you can get out of dodge fast. Just another sign I guess of the civilian/military divide.

Exactly why I back in. Quick escape!

Not reason 15 pages but here is your answer Op.

These are army vets. This is the way the military trains you - so you can get out of dodge fast. Just another sign I guess of the civilian/military divide.

Have none of the backup haters here had the experience of having a car back out of a parking space when you're walking right there as a pedestrian, and having no idea whether they see you there or not? When a car is pulling forward out of a parking space where there are pedestrians, you can make eye contact. You generally know if they see you, and if you don't. That's been my experience, anyway. As a pedestrian, I feel much less secure when I'm in some grocery store parking lot trying to walk near a car that might be backing up, as opposed to one that's front-forward. I can see if anyone is in the car, and I can see if they see me, if they're pulling out of a space front forward as opposed to backing up. This isn't rocket science, guys.

When you arrive at a space, everyone sees you. You're in the middle of the road and pedestrians are on alert to the fact that your car is moving somewhere and there is potential danger for them. IMHO better to take the extra 1 minute then to pull forward and back in to the space. Everyone sees you now. And this way you have a better field of vision over all the angles of what you will potentially running over when you leave the space (when people are less on full alert to your presence because your car hasn't already been moving around in the public area).

That's my reasoning. It only takes about a extra minute even if you have a few corrections. If you get good at it, you can slide right in with no corrections and it only takes an extra 10 seconds or so.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why it takes so much longer to back in than to back out

One is backing your car into a tight spot. The other is backing into a large space.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why it takes so much longer to back in than to back out

When a person is backing in to a spot, they have to use the backup camera to make sure they don't hit the cars on either side/stay in the center of the space. There are rare exceptions, but most people are pretty slow at this. With the backup cameras, it is easy to see when it is safe to back out and you are going into an open space, so it requires much less time and precision.

People who back in and say it's safer are FOS. They just like making others wait.

Anonymous wrote:I’m very safety minded, but I don’t understand this. When initially parking there’s no way to wait for the opportune time in order to do it quickly and safely. If I am pulling out I can sit there as long as I want until the coast is clear. Plus, I have a back up camera. How is it safer to back in?

It's not. Like you said, the vehicle is actually spending more time waiting in the part of the parking lot where people are walking/driving.

I have never felt more safe walking through parking lots where people are backing in. People who back in are just inept drivers.

I’m very safety minded, but I don’t understand this. When initially parking there’s no way to wait for the opportune time in order to do it quickly and safely. If I am pulling out I can sit there as long as I want until the coast is clear. Plus, I have a back up camera. How is it safer to back in?

I don't understand why it takes so much longer to back in than to back out

Anonymous wrote:Bc a lot of people have backup cameras.

Then why does it take them so long? I have no problem with someone who easily backs into a spot (and it should be easy, most people have backup cameras!!) but people who take forever....

Because they have main character syndrome.

There is no additional safety benefit to backing in. It mind boggling how anyone thinks this makes them "safer."

I just assume anyone spending more than 10 seconds backing into a parking spot is a complete moron. We all have cameras now, it should not be that hard yet somehow these giant SUVs spend minutes backing into a spot. It's ALWAYS giant SUVs and pickup trucks.

It seems to irritate/embarrass the passengers in the car, too. Yesterday we had to wait (along with several other pedestrians) while a man backed in. His companion rolled her eyes and looked annoyed and mouthed “sorry” to us.

Why is it safer if you have a back up camera? What am I missing?