To me, it seems objectively easier to pull into a parking space forward and then back out of the space when you are ready to leave. You don’t have to line up with the lines while driving backwards, and it’s easier to keep from hitting other cars as well. So why back in? To me, the only advantage I can think of is that you can get out quicker, technically.
Edit: I do not need driving instruction, just wondered why. The reasoning.
You’ve got all these answers that include “it’s easier” and “it’s safer”. Yet in the same posts they insult people who don’t have the same opinion as them. I hate people that back in because it wastes my time waiting for them to maneuver when it’s quicker to just pull forward.
When you’re leaving a parking spot and backing out all the same logic applies that these bozos use to justify backing in, but it’s more socially acceptable and doesn’t require accuracy, which speeds up the process. People that HAVE to back into parking spots are control freaks.
I agree that attacking someone for their opinion is just silly but I honestly do not agree with this statement. People, and more importantly pedestrians, know what you are doing when you are backing into a spot and are therefore less likely to walk behind you. This is not the case when backing out of a spot. They might not even know someone is in the vehicle. Add in little kids running out of nowhere. You have a lot better situational awareness while backing in versus backing out since your field of view is not obstructed by up to three sides by cars. I do not think the difference is catastrophic by any means but, to me at least, there is a difference.
The safety of pedestrians is the best explanation I’ve heard here so far, and it really does make me think, unlike all the people telling me I’m a bad driver and obviously they’re all so skilled and awesome which is why they back into spots. It’s seriously unreal how personally people can take a simple question, to the point they make huge assumptions about the person asking it. Definitely feels reddity in here lol
I’m betting it’s the use of the phrase “objectively easier” when that is incorrect by argument of geometry. The “objectively” riles people up.
There is a reason why forklifts have rear-wheel steering (and therefore behave much like an automobile driving in reverse): having the point of rotation towards the direction of motion allows for much more precise maneuvering, much like you would need to do in a larger vehicle trying to fit into a tight parking space.