It depends on what I'm doing.

If I need to access my trunk, I will pull it. So that's what I do at the Costco/Giant parking lot or when we pull into a hotel and need to unload.

But if I'm at a concert or a ballgame where everyone will be leaving at the same time, I will back in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I back in because it makes leaving safer, but I pass the first open spot I come to in case a short-tempered puller-inner is behind me

LEAVING may be safer, but the whole process of backing in is much less safe for people walking through the parking lot.

How on earth is backing into a spot at all less safe than pulling in, let alone "much less" so?

When someone is backing out of a spot, you can clearly see their reverse lights on, and know what the person is doing.

With the whole "backing in" circus, you go from drive to reverse and switch depending on the maneuver. It's harder for a pedestrian walking by to figure out WTF the person is going to do.

DP amd I'm struggling to understand how you are walking between the back of a car and an empty parking spot such that you are in danger.

That's how I feel when people claim that backing out is dangerous. I've been driving for 30 years, most of the time without a rear camera, and have never found it dangerous backing out. Or frankly, with other people backing out.

But when people back in, it's constantly a concern - they just expect everyone to stop and half for them. That's not how pedestrian safety works.

You very clearly have limited visibility into the lane (obscured by vehicles left/right) when backing out. You also can't look both behind left and behind right at the same time. Meanwhile You have perfectly clear visibility into a spot you're backing into (which is also FAR less likely to be occupied by a pedestrian).

Uh, this is why you go slow. Incrementally slow.

Truly, I swear people who back in are living on another planet with their claims of "safety." I get that leaving is safer. But backing into your spot? Nope.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I back in because it makes leaving safer, but I pass the first open spot I come to in case a short-tempered puller-inner is behind me

LEAVING may be safer, but the whole process of backing in is much less safe for people walking through the parking lot.

How on earth is backing into a spot at all less safe than pulling in, let alone "much less" so?

When someone is backing out of a spot, you can clearly see their reverse lights on, and know what the person is doing.

With the whole "backing in" circus, you go from drive to reverse and switch depending on the maneuver. It's harder for a pedestrian walking by to figure out WTF the person is going to do.

DP amd I'm struggling to understand how you are walking between the back of a car and an empty parking spot such that you are in danger.

That's how I feel when people claim that backing out is dangerous. I've been driving for 30 years, most of the time without a rear camera, and have never found it dangerous backing out. Or frankly, with other people backing out.

But when people back in, it's constantly a concern - they just expect everyone to stop and half for them. That's not how pedestrian safety works.

You very clearly have limited visibility into the lane (obscured by vehicles left/right) when backing out. You also can't look both behind left and behind right at the same time. Meanwhile You have perfectly clear visibility into a spot you're backing into (which is also FAR less likely to be occupied by a pedestrian).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I back in because it makes leaving safer, but I pass the first open spot I come to in case a short-tempered puller-inner is behind me

LEAVING may be safer, but the whole process of backing in is much less safe for people walking through the parking lot.

How on earth is backing into a spot at all less safe than pulling in, let alone "much less" so?

When someone is backing out of a spot, you can clearly see their reverse lights on, and know what the person is doing.

With the whole "backing in" circus, you go from drive to reverse and switch depending on the maneuver. It's harder for a pedestrian walking by to figure out WTF the person is going to do.

DP amd I'm struggling to understand how you are walking between the back of a car and an empty parking spot such that you are in danger.

That's how I feel when people claim that backing out is dangerous. I've been driving for 30 years, most of the time without a rear camera, and have never found it dangerous backing out. Or frankly, with other people backing out.

But when people back in, it's constantly a concern - they just expect everyone to stop and half for them. That's not how pedestrian safety works.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I back in because it makes leaving safer, but I pass the first open spot I come to in case a short-tempered puller-inner is behind me

LEAVING may be safer, but the whole process of backing in is much less safe for people walking through the parking lot.

How on earth is backing into a spot at all less safe than pulling in, let alone "much less" so?

When someone is backing out of a spot, you can clearly see their reverse lights on, and know what the person is doing.

With the whole "backing in" circus, you go from drive to reverse and switch depending on the maneuver. It's harder for a pedestrian walking by to figure out WTF the person is going to do.

DP amd I'm struggling to understand how you are walking between the back of a car and an empty parking spot such that you are in danger.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I back in because it makes leaving safer, but I pass the first open spot I come to in case a short-tempered puller-inner is behind me

LEAVING may be safer, but the whole process of backing in is much less safe for people walking through the parking lot.

+1. It’s so much fun when I come out of the grocery store and discover that someone has backed in to the spot next to me. That way, I get to maneuver the back side door of the car open and try to maneuver my baby in her infant seat into place without scraping my back on the other car’s rear view mirror. Good times.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I back in because it makes leaving safer, but I pass the first open spot I come to in case a short-tempered puller-inner is behind me

LEAVING may be safer, but the whole process of backing in is much less safe for people walking through the parking lot.

How on earth is backing into a spot at all less safe than pulling in, let alone "much less" so?

When someone is backing out of a spot, you can clearly see their reverse lights on, and know what the person is doing.

With the whole "backing in" circus, you go from drive to reverse and switch depending on the maneuver. It's harder for a pedestrian walking by to figure out WTF the person is going to do.

Back-in in my driveway because I have to plug the charger in my Tesla.

Otherwise, the self-driving feature parks perfectly most of the time.

Anonymous wrote:Backing in is for hicks and insecure men.
It irritates everyone. Do not do this.

Or military, or first responders, or anyone else who tends to drive professionally.

Anonymous wrote:Back in if there's no one around and/or if it's a situation likely to be super crowded on departure, like a concert or something, where people make it hard for you to get out.

Absolutely. I always try to back in for concerts or large sports events.

Anonymous wrote:Backing in is safer, but since so many of you can't park worth a damn, no wonder it annoys you.

Amen. I was taught to back in and can always back in on the first try. Mid 50’s so learned to drive before back up cameras.

I also won’t hold up a line of cars. I’ll go farther out if needed because I don’t have to have the closest spot.

I also don’t understand why it matters because people have to wait for people to back out of spots so what’s the difference if someone has to wait on the way in vs on the way out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I back in because it makes leaving safer, but I pass the first open spot I come to in case a short-tempered puller-inner is behind me

LEAVING may be safer, but the whole process of backing in is much less safe for people walking through the parking lot.

How on earth is backing into a spot at all less safe than pulling in, let alone "much less" so?

Leaving the grocery store the other day I patiently waited as an older person backed into a spot. The people walking next to me groused about waiting for someone to back in. As soon as we were able to pass, another car a few spots up made a mess of backing out of their spot - probably a seven-point turn/fiasco.

People are bad at parking either way. Backing in is more safe for all involved.

I park far enough away that spaces are plentiful, get some extra steps and cruise in and out - but that's not always possible. If not, I back in.

Anonymous wrote:I back in because it makes leaving safer, but I pass the first open spot I come to in case a short-tempered puller-inner is behind me

LEAVING may be safer, but the whole process of backing in is much less safe for people walking through the parking lot.

Back in if there's no one around and/or if it's a situation likely to be super crowded on departure, like a concert or something, where people make it hard for you to get out.