Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

[DJMC]

I constantly see shoppers reverse into Supermarket car parking spaces, between two other cars. One on Saturday reversed right up to a hawthorn hedge.

To me, reversing into a space between two cars is more of a challenge than going in forwards and later reversing out into clear space (watching for traffic of course).

But what I don't understand is that most cars have their boots at the rear, and most shoppers go to a Supermarket to fill a trolley with shopping. Is it that this reverse parking is only done once by any driver until they return to their car with a trolley full and realise they can't get it to the rear of the car or the rear is hard up against a hawthorn hedge? "Next time I'll go in forwards" durrrr.

Should they all to be reported to the Police for driving without due care and attention as they've given no thought to the repercussions of their actions?

Perhaps they're all shoplifters looking to make a quick getaway?

I just don't understand......

[StephenL]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

Well, in a supermarket I too make sure I can access my boot. But in other parking situations I actually find it easier to reverse in. Being trained (a long, long time ago!) on HGVs I find using mirrors for reversing second nature. And it's much better to drive out into traffic than reverse into it.

[Andel]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

I always reverse into a parking space whether its in a supermarket or any other parking area, it's much much easier than going forwards and backwards half a dozen times to get into the space frontwards.

If I can't get to the boot then I just shove the shopping onto the back seats!

The person might also not be shopping but using cash machine, lottery etc.

Len

[DJMC]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

...it's much much easier than going forwards and backwards half a dozen times...

Surely that's what happens when reversing in?

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

Well, in a supermarket I too make sure I can access my boot. But in other parking situations I actually find it easier to reverse in. Being trained (a long, long time ago!) on HGVs I find using mirrors for reversing second nature. And it's much better to drive out into traffic than reverse into it.

It was at a super hardware store that I had parked front end in (to be able to load my goods straight into the back of my car) & when I was reversing to leave, the other car opposite me decided to do the same too. Like you Stephen, I was using my mirrors & saw him so I stopped moving while sounding my horn three times. That dope just kept coming until he collided with my car. His wife gets out & says "we didn't see or here you" (after I'd said my bit). But she was on her mobile phone in the car (so wouldn't have heard) & I don't know where he was looking. However, the funny part was, I drove forward as soon as I heard the crunch & then there was some more crunching etc. because my tow bar had gone through his bumper bar & as I drove forward, it pulled his bumper bar off. My car was fine, but his......

[DJMC]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

To my mind there's more chance of a shopper hitting one of the two stationary cars whilst reversing into a space than there is colliding with another parker when reversing out, Stephen excluded naturally.

[mas]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

Reversing in is actually safer.

When reversing into a space you have excellent visibility. Reversing out of a space you have very limited visibility.

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

To my mind there's more chance of a shopper hitting one of the two stationary cars whilst reversing into a space ... Stephen excluded naturally.

Humph ! is there ? I disagree

ONLY Stephen ...

I learned to drive at 11 and my dad used to let me reverse his Mercedes into the drive and park outside the garage

Driving out into traffic is sooo much easier than reversing ... and our Mercedes Viano Long Wheel Base Extended to 5.5 m is a "beast" ... so I just get back with the shopping and pull out into the "roadway" , stop with flashers going and load up the shopping bags ... muich easier than trying to reverse the BEAST out

[cinders]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

I too find it much easier to reverse neatly and safely into a tight space, than drive in forwards, and I simply hate having to reverse out into the stream of traffic trying to look for their own space.
I agree that not everyone is capable of reversing safely round the required curve, and also that if I have need to access the boot then I will go in forwards. But I think the main issue is probably many people's lack of awareness to what is round them in a car...

[DJMC]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

Reversing in is actually safer.

When reversing into a space you have excellent visibility.

No, I can see better out of my windscreen going forward than with my mirrors in reverse.

But you miss the point... it's the shopping link that intrigues me. Whilst there may be benefits of general parking going forward AND reversing in, why would you put your boot in a position where you cannot unload your shopping easily from the trolley, or even access it at all as in the case of the hawthorn parker?

[StephenL]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

why would you put your boot in a position where you cannot unload your shopping easily from the trolley, or even access it at all as in the case of the hawthorn parker?

Now that I DON'T understand. It's a case of doing whatever is best in the circumstances.

[wanderer]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

For some of us there is no room in the boot due to camera/climbing gear.
Plus facing forwards permits a quick getaway with the shop(lift)ing.

[cinders]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

That's a good point - my shopping always goes on the back seat, because the boot is full of coats, shoes, boots, tripod, bridles, headcollars and assorted other horsey and outdoory items. Even the camera bag doesn't fit in the boot often - which is annoying when I then have to take it round the supermarket.

[StephenL]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

Plus facing forwards permits a quick getaway with the shop(lift)ing.

Spoken like a true Scouser (which I know you're not )

(apologies to any offended Liverpudlians from a Woollyback)

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Are Supermarket 'reversers' bad drivers?

Lucky my boot is only full of a double and a triple buggy ... and still there is plenty of room for the shopping - it is 6' x 6' x 4' high