Check the vehicles next to you when you park.....

MrsE_2

Strider590 wrote: »

Because it's faster and it's easier?

I can reverse parallel park in one quick manoeuvre, leaving just a few inches spare at the front and rear and parking less than an inch from the kerb.... When I see people driving nose first into these spaces, they're there for 10 minutes hopping between first and reverse AND often end up parked at an angle (sometimes even on the kerb).

I hate parking nose in, but if I'm getting a big shop it makes sense too. Otherwise I have to hope there is room to get the trolley down the side of the car & open the door at the back. Don't say leave your trolley at the front & carry your bags down because the trolley often starts running away:eek::eek::eek::eek:

ETA sorry I see you are talking about parallel parking, I was talking about why people do it at shopping centres.

Strider590

MrsE wrote: »

ETA sorry I see you are talking about parallel parking, I was talking about why people do it at shopping centres.

It's cool, I've shouted many an abusive comment at daft sods trying to squeeze shopping trolleys down the side of my car because they didn't have the forethought to park nose first.
At the supermarket, nose first parking is a given as far as im concerned

johnfarquhar74

Strider590 wrote: »

At the supermarket, nose first parking is a given as far as im concerned

And a legal requirement in some US states due to some cars having rear only registration marks(so the Police/authorities can identify cars) and it is a sight easier driving nose into a confined space and reversing out into the open!

vikingaero

johnfarquhar74 wrote: »

And a legal requirement in some US states due to some cars having rear only registration marks(so the Police/authorities can identify cars) and it is a sight easier driving nose into a confined space and reversing out into the open!

I find it easier to reverse into a space and drive out forwards. That is of course except in a supermarket because of the need to load the boot or where there are angled bays.

It's far safer to reverse into a space when you arrive and it's quiet rather than attempt to reverse out into traffic and pedestrians when it's busy.

johnfarquhar74

vikingaero wrote: »

I find it easier to reverse into a space and drive out forwards. That is of course except in a supermarket because of the need to load the boot or where there are angled bays.

It's far safer to reverse into a space when you arrive and it's quiet rather than attempt to reverse out into traffic and pedestrians when it's busy.

Easier and safer can be two different things! As I say, in the US it's mandatory to drive in reverse out. Here in the UK we generally adopt the opposite approach.
Personally, I reverse in and drive out, purely because when reversing out, regardless how much I use my mirrors, I still have to adopt a bit of blind faith that fellow drivers will let me out once I start my maneouvre. You'd be suprised the amount of times I've been half out a space(obviously with the road being clear at the start), reverse light on, and people still squeeze past.

But like I said, easier and safer can sometimes be mutually exclusive to each other.
Easier, IMO, would be driving nose first in(less likely to hit a parked car) and reversing out because obviously fellow drivers will cede way, obviously;)
Safer, reversing in as once you identify a space you can govern whether pedestrians or cars get in between you and the space as the car reverses. Driving out nose first is self explanatory.
Easier=best for the driver, Safer=best for everyone else!

vikingaero

The other difference in the US of A is that parallel parking is uncommon compared to huge parking bays and angled bays.

Mrs V. won't park anywhere where she has to parallel park. [rolleyes]

Lum

How is driving in forwards easier? o_O

One end of the car can swing side to side, namely the front end that steers. The other can't. Once the front is between two cars movement is restricted and accurate parking becomes a lot harder.

Much better to just line up the back end while you have free movement due to being on the road and then reverse in and straighten up as you do so. The same is true of parallel parking.

It's even more important with modern cars and awful visibility.

Personally I just throw my shopping on the back seat (or passenger seat if it's a small load), but that's mainly because the route back from my local Tesco is very twisty and hilly so anything in the boot ends up strewn everywhere on even the gentlest of drives.

Strider590

Lum wrote: »

How is driving in forwards easier? o_O

I think people who find it easier are simply intimidated by the thought of reversing into a confined space.

You do have a hell of a lot more control when you reversing as once the rear wheels are lined up they don't deviate.... But when driving forward into a space the rear wheels follow the shortest route, so you have a far greater chance of hitting another vehicle.

johnfarquhar74

Lum wrote: »

How is driving in forwards easier? o_O

Mmm? Drive along car park, see a space, make sure it's clear, swing out then turn in, simples!
OR, drive along car park, see space, pass space or make sure it's clear to swing out, reverse in to space watching all applicable mirrors adjusting steering as we go.
Personally I think driving nose in is easier than reversing in, the flip side is the opposite has to be achieved to leave the parking space.
This is just my opinion, I'm not going to sit here and cyber-argue about what's quicker-easier-faster. If you believe the act of reversing in to a space is easier than driving nose in, fine.
And before we start questioning peoples driving abilities(Strider;)) let me state again that I DO reverse in and drive out, only because I find it easier with my estate style car, that is not to say all drivers find it the same!

pulliptears

If Im shopping I go in nose first, if not then I'll usually look for a nice space where I can drive right through Failing that, reverse it is. I also look for end spaces so I'm only parking against one car. Of course, if I'm in my little old Clio I'm not so fussy.

I watched the man across the road pulling in at the side of the road the other night. The road was empty yet he drove a good 10 foot past where he wanted to park then reversed back. Why!??