# Backing into parking spaces **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 24, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299 "2011-12-24T17:53:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dingbang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@Dingbang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dingbang)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/1 "2011-12-24T17:53:38Z")
Can someone please explain the rationale for backing into a parking space instead of pulling in nose-first? I realize that it’s easier to exit when you can just pull straight out (and that’s why I like to pull through from the other side when possible), but it seems that advantage is negated by the extra time and effort required to back into a space. And it’s easier to back out into the traffic lane, even considering that you have to watch for traffic and pedestrians, than it is to carefully back into a limited space with cars on either side. But a lot of people like backing into spaces, so I must be missing something. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/2 "2011-12-24T17:59:28Z")
As noted in the Pit thread: [You’re Parking Wrong Why it’s almost always better to back into a space than pull into it head-on.]([Reverse parking: A better way to park in parking lots.](http://www.slate.com/articles/life/transport/2011/02/youre_parking_wrong.single.html)) > [@](#): > > “When backing in, I have to drive past the slot, then back in. On my way past it, I can look in the slot to ensure it is clear. I have situational awareness, so it is pretty safe to back in. When I leave, I just have to drive out and that is safer than backing out. If I don’t back in, when I leave I have to back out into what is basically unknown traffic.” ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/3 "2011-12-24T17:59:29Z")
I got into the habit of doing so when I started driving pick-ups. The wheelbases are longer and especially in more restricted parking lots, backing in is much easier. Not much difference in exiting. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/4 "2011-12-24T18:03:41Z")
When parked nose-out, you can see the traffic/pedestrians from the driver seat. When backing out, you need to be out almost all the way the see the aisles. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/5 "2011-12-24T18:08:11Z")
It’s also easier - for me at least. The reversing turning circle is tighter because the wheels that turn are at the front end. Then you come out forwards, which is, again, easier. You just put your foot on the gas and you’re out. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/6 "2011-12-24T18:09:06Z")
There are a lot of kids in my neighborhood, and for that reason I almost always park derriere first in my driveway. It makes it easier to watch out for them when I leave the house. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/7 "2011-12-24T18:11:00Z")
As I’ve complained about in other threads, pedestrians have a habit of taking the precedence of foot over vehicular traffic as an infinite license to ignore vehicle movement. I’ve actually had pedestrians walk past my back bumper as I’m backing up with my blinkers on- because it’s MY RESPONSIBILITY to not allow them to commit suicide with my car. (:mad:) Combine this with the fact that my car gives me roughly the same field of view as the gunner slits in a tank, and that means that I really, really hate backing up out of parking spaces. I always back in if the flow of traffic allows it. Maneuvering between two parked cars is the lesser evil-at least they hold still. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/8 "2011-12-24T18:15:20Z")
With the abundance of SUV’s, MiniVans, and Jacked up pickup trucks creating visiibility nearly impossible when backing up, I think driving out of parking spot is easier than backing out. In most vehicles, the driver’s eyes is closer to front bumper than the back bumper. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/9 "2011-12-24T20:19:52Z")
You can back into these or pull forward… [![](https://thingsthatarerectangles.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/20070623_empty_lot_parking_lot.jpg) ](https://thingsthatarerectangles.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/20070623_empty_lot_parking_lot.jpg) Not these… [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Angle_parking_lot_diagram.PNG) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Angle_parking_lot_diagram.PNG) :rolleyes: I only “back in” occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/10 "2011-12-24T20:34:16Z")
> [@Jamicat](#): > > You can back into these or pull forward… > [http://thingsthatarerectangles.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/20070623\_empty\_lot\_parking\_lot.jpg](http://thingsthatarerectangles.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/20070623_empty_lot_parking_lot.jpg) > > Not these… > [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Angle\_parking\_lot\_diagram.PNG](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Angle_parking_lot_diagram.PNG) > > :rolleyes: > > I only “back in” occasionally. You can back into the angled type if you drive the wrong way 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/11 "2011-12-24T20:43:07Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > And it’s easier to back out into the traffic lane, even considering that you have to watch for traffic and pedestrians, than it is to carefully back into a limited space with cars on either side. > But a lot of people like backing into spaces, so I must be missing something. For whatever reason I stopped doing it, but I really have no problem backing into a parking spot. Maybe it’s easier for _you_ to back out into traffic (and pedestrians) but for me I’d say it’s wash. I can back into a spot pretty fast. I was taught how to drive (and spent my first few summers driving) on an Econoline with no side windows (other then the two front doors) and learned to drive using only my mirrors. To this day I can drive without ever looking over my shoulder if I need to…it comes in extremely handy when backing up. The funny thing was during my driver’s test I got docked points during the backing up portion since I couldn’t back up straight. I figured I should do it the ‘proper’ way and looked over my shoulder. After I did it the tester made a stupid comment about me having to have someone else back the car up down the long driveways in the rich part of town where I live (:rolleyes:). The thing is, when I backed up at home, I just used the mirrors, lined them up with the edge of the driveway and backed up with no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/12 "2011-12-24T20:44:07Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > You can back into the angled type if you drive the wrong way 😃 Or pull all the way through from the other side and then have to figure out how to get out if the aisle is to narrow to make a wide turn. ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/13 "2011-12-24T21:29:42Z")
I usually back into spaces because you (usually) have to back in or back out, and I prefer back into an empty spot than to back out into a large space where other vehicles and pedestrians are moving around. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/14 "2011-12-24T22:17:47Z")
Longer wheel base vehicles are easier to maneuver when backing into a spot, and consequently, it is easier to get them out of the spot when moving forward. I used to drive an extended cab, long bed pickup truck and almost always backed into spots or looked for ones that I could pull through. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/15 "2011-12-25T01:02:11Z")
If the OP will excuse the slight tangent, I’ve noticed that some places have signs prohibiting back-in parking. Any idea as to why? ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/16 "2011-12-25T01:45:39Z")
The problem with people who back into a parking spot is that 9 out of 10 times they do a bad job. Most of the time they are too far to one side of the parking space. If you do it, do it right! ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/17 "2011-12-25T01:50:11Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > If the OP will excuse the slight tangent, I’ve noticed that some places have signs prohibiting back-in parking. Any idea as to why? A store I used to go to had a “please don’t back in” sign posted in the parking lot next to the building. When I asked why, I was told that too many people backed into the building itself. 😕 So…maybe there’s just really a lot of shitty drivers out there. I often back for the reason **breezman** mentioned - backing in is easy; backing out, in a long wheelbase/no rear window visibility vehicle is more of a pain in the ass in a busy lot. Actually I’m majorly lazy and don’t mind walking an extra few dozen feet - so usually I just slide into an easy space in the parking lot hinterlands and walk the extra 20 seconds. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/18 "2011-12-25T02:18:11Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > But a lot of people like backing into spaces, so I must be missing something. What you are missing are the children whom you accidentally ran over while backing out of parking spaces. The next time you pressure wash the underside of your vehicle, see what rinses out from the back end. It’s a common problem at Walmart around Christmas, so in a way you are performing a messy but necessary community service. Keep up the good work. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/19 "2011-12-25T02:28:43Z")
If I can’t “pull through” I’d rather back into a lot space - it’s easy enough, and makes getting out much easier and safer (especially with the likelihood of big SUVs etc. blocking visibility on either side). (Where I live some streets are converting to back-in, angled parking…I understand the rationale - again visibility is much improved when leaving compared to pull-in angled parking - but getting into the spot in traffic is kind of a PITA). ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299/20 "2011-12-25T02:34:09Z")
I back in that when I leave my garage I can zoom out like Batman. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backing-into-parking-spaces/607299.md?page=2)