It’s never too late to change
I know we’re in a hurry to do things these days. It’s part of our society to be busy. Part of the problem we have is that we run out of time to get everything done that we need to get done. Do you ever find yourself rushing around to get things done that you stop thinking logically?
I know that each time I’m in a hurry I tend to forget things and become less organized. I try to give myself enough time to think clearly though. Sometimes that’s not always possible. As a driver, we also have to be organized and have to constantly think about reducing the risks associated to collisions, even when it comes to parking in a parking lot.
I watched the driver of this vehicle pull into his parking space, secure his vehicle and then get out and walk to the store. Why didn’t he pull through into the next space before securing his vehicle; especially since it was vacant? Looking at how busy this parking lot was, why would anyone want to back out of the parking space? The blind area to the rear of the vehicle is larger than any other area around the vehicle. A blind area is the space on the ground that you can’t see. It can hide things as big as shopping carts, garbage cans and even a child. Why would you want to back up if you knew this? The blind area to the front of the vehicle is much smaller in comparison.
The added problem on this day was the rain. Pedestrians tend to run with their head down in the rain. Their main focus would be to get to their vehicle before getting soaked by the rain. They’re not necessarily looking for drivers backing up blindly. Backing out of a parking space is more difficult than driving out forward. It’s tough to see all areas while backing, especially sudden movement from pedestrians running between vehicles.
Each time you parking in a major parking lot like this, look for pull through parking spaces. It’s so much easier and safer to drive in and through to the next space. Looking forward while driving forward means you can spot vehicles and pedestrians moving from your peripheral vision. There’s a lot of head turning needed to back out safely in a busy parking lot as mirrors and back up camera won’t show you everything in time to respond to it. If it can be that risky, why do it?
Some people have commented to me that it’s difficult to load groceries in the trunk if there’s a vehicle parked at the rear bumper. Not true. I can easily load and unload my trunk if I just park my vehicle roughly two to three feet from the dividing line of the parking spaces. Not only can this give me enough room to get to my trunk, it can also put a buffer zone between my vehicle and the vehicle parked behind my vehicle. It can help reduce those little bumps the bumper tends to have in parking lots.
It’s never too late to change your driving habits to become a safer driver, even in a parking lot.
I “Like” Ur thinking, The Safe Driver! Everything U said made sense, but here in Minnesota, the etiquette of lot parking seems to be just the opposite. Drivers who driver thru 2 the next space get strange & disgruntled looks, especially from a newcomer who wanted to pull in2 the now-occupied space. When my husband is ready 2 LEAVE a lot, & he Cs the space in front is NOW empty, he usually pulls thru 2 save backing up from his space. This, 2, is frowned upon here in Minnesota… Drivers arriving just do not EXPECT it here & seem 2 think it is NOT the “Minnesota Nice” they “Like” 2 C!
Your point about the blindspots behind cars is well taken. It is always better – and easier – to pull forward out of a space than to back out.
Thanks for your comment Anne! Appreciate the feedback!