# Backing into parking spaces **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 5, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/495469 "2009-05-05T22:45:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/495469/61 "2009-05-07T19:20:00Z")
Didn’t they have a timestamp on your ticekt? Couldn’t you have fought it and won? ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/495469/62 "2009-05-07T19:23:38Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Backing out in my SUV is a lot easeier than backing out in my car. The SUV is high and I can see all around me, and see quite well even if surrounded by SUV’s. Aside from the increased elevation, it’s all glass, and straight back. My car has a curved roof and big, thick C-pillars that block my view. Part of this is an illusion. One of the things that matters most is what the nearest point on the ground behind you you can see is. In an SUV, which is very high off the ground to begin with, and tend to be rather long, the nearest point you can see is generally very far back. This is why parents back over their kids. They look out the rear window and it looks clear, but their 3’ tall child is standing 10’ behind the car and is thus invisible. It’s really all about the trigonometry. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/495469/63 "2009-05-07T22:30:39Z")
> [@Tenebras](#): > > Part of this is an illusion. One of the things that matters most is what the nearest point on the ground behind you you can see is. In an SUV, which is very high off the ground to begin with, and tend to be rather long, the nearest point you can see is generally very far back. This is why parents back over their kids. They look out the rear window and it looks clear, but their 3’ tall child is standing 10’ behind the car and is thus invisible. You’re right about that, of course. But I don’t worry about running over three foot tall children in parking lots. I just assume that they’re not there if no one else is around. So far, so good. Well, that plus reverse sensors if there’s a random 3’ tall child running around unattended. I’m worried about hitting cars and pedestrians, all of which are much more visible. Now, I’m not heartless here. It’s common sense. I’m obviously aware of the situation outside of the truck as I approach it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/495469.md?page=3)