Parking cars - drive in or reverse in?

Clearly but research shows that reverse parking is safer. And others have also explained the benefits on this thread, but you do you of course.
I would dearly love to see that research - and - others have not explained anything here - they have given opinions - big difference
 
Very common in towns in the Pilbara (eg. Newman) for there to be signs to say reverse into parking bays. Local people, at least, seem to do it habitually there.

I imagine that it's a (safety?) requirement on the mine sites.

Yes. Mine sites are uber safety conscious and reverse parking (Vs forward in) is the safest method. Full stop. Talking about safety to other people, not neatness or speed of execution. At any time, but especially in an emergency, forward out is obviously safer than reversing out, especially if there are multiple vehicles.

Its probably a site by site thing but reverse in is the practice on mines in very many countries.
 
Yes. Mine sites are uber safety conscious and reverse parking (Vs forward in) is the safest method. Full stop. Talking about safety to other people, not neatness or speed of execution. At any time, but especially in an emergency, forward out is obviously safer than reversing out, especially if there are multiple vehicles.

Its probably a site by site thing but reverse in is the practice on mines in very many countries.
Is there much other random moving traffic on a mine site? Because that’s what shopping centre car parking is all about.
 
Is there much other random moving traffic on a mine site? Because that’s what shopping centre car parking is all about.

Hard to generalise. Unless FIFO, there is usually a visitors and personal cars park where cars come and go mostly at beginning & end of shifts using a supermarket-type car park. It will be signed reverse park. On site, technical people will be buzzing back and forth constantly from their area, usually in underground utes and there might be 10 parking spots and , TBH, its often parallel park with big spaces :) But reverse otherwise. 200t trucks just park :eek:

Mines don't like 'random'. There will be mandated traffic flow directions.

I guess what you mean is that supermarkets have 'all types' buzzing around, creating mayhem. Yes, so even if the owners did want to impose 'safety best practice', it would be ignored. I must admit, at Bunnings I usually park forward in, so I can dump all the stuff I bought but didn't really need straight into the boot.
 
The steering geometry of cars is such that backing in to a spot will always be the more accurate way to do it. Assuming, of course, the the driver can actually back a car with any degree of accuracy.
This. @jb747 wins the discussion. Unless we all start driving fork lifts, backing in is more efficient.
 
However its not more efficient for other people and just shows how OCDC the reverse parker is being inconsiderate for others.
You have to wait for the person in front to back in, or you have to wait for them to back out.

Oh, I see what you mean now. When they’re backing out, you can block them and not give them any consideration. It’s a shoe and foot discussion.
 
That's just rubbish. And as a non-driver, are you qualified to comment?

Observation doesn't require a license.

Many clients I have worked with in fleet management and transport industry have reverse parking only policies cars in their parking lots for safety reasons, especially where there are larger trucks and forklifts etc crossing the area.

I would dearly love to see that research - and - others have not explained anything here - they have given opinions - big difference

Here is just one: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369847819308812

The analysis from this study implies that the pull-in/back-out parking maneuver is more likely to result in a collision and therefore, is associated with a higher crash risk. Further analysis of North Carolina’s parking related fatal and serious injury crashes found that vehicles backing out of parking spaces was overwhelmingly the main cause for these serious injuries. 90% of North Carolina’s parking related fatal and serious injuries occurred during a back-out maneuver.

You could also consider the points raised here: A driving expert says you should reverse into a car park. This is why

Its clear many here arent willing to consider the practical benefits of reverse parking.

People are creatures of habits and perhaps if you have had your license for decades but havent used the skill enough you might not be good at it.

There is a reason it is a driving test requirement, and I wonder how many "veteran" drivers would actually pass todays driving exam.
 
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I wonder how many "veteran" drivers would actually pass todays driving exam

not me, I am a left foot braker ...
 
Gotta love human nature huh? There are 2 ways to do something - my way or the wrong way - all makes up the rich tapestry of life huh?
I have backed in. I will admit it. But I find it much harder to do that driving front in. I tend to avoid car parks that I know are problematic for backing out. But these would also be hard to back in as well. And when I've travelled across two parks so am effectively 'reversed in' then likely some numpty has parked too close and I have nowhere to put the shopping trolley while unloading it.
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Here is just one: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369847819308812

The analysis from this study implies that the pull-in/back-out parking maneuver is more likely to result in a collision and therefore, is associated with a higher crash risk. Further analysis of North Carolina’s parking related fatal and serious injury crashes found that vehicles backing out of parking spaces was overwhelmingly the main cause for these serious injuries. 90% of North Carolina’s parking related fatal and serious injuries occurred during a back-out maneuver.

You could also consider the points raised here: A driving expert says you should reverse into a car park. This is why

Its clear many here arent willing to consider the practical benefits of reverse parking.

People are creatures of habits and perhaps if you have had your license for decades but havent used the skill enough you might not be good at it.

There is a reason it is a driving test requirement, and I wonder how many "veteran" drivers would actually pass todays driving exam.
US parks and drives on the other side. Thats likely to make a difference I'd like to see an Australian reference. Or UK one.


There is a reason it is a driving test requirement, and I wonder how many "veteran" drivers would actually pass todays driving exam.

Im going to make a prediction here that people who have a licence now, whenever it was obtained, would likely do better than an observer. I know. Nothing to back it up. Just a hunch.
 
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Is there much other random moving traffic on a mine site? Because that’s what shopping centre car parking is all about.
Perhaps, but the shopping centres don't have multiple 300t Haulpaks moving around the numerous mine sites.
 

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