Parking

A car with a camera is very helpful. I think it's an age thing, my husband takes ages parking now going forward and backwards many times. I like to drive into a space that I can then drive out of.

My parking has gone to pot after all the lockdowns. I used to not even think about parking but now I am like Reginald Molehusband.

I find I’m checking much more than I used to when backing out of a parking space and I know it’s a bit of a cheat but I find my reversing camera very reassuring and wouldn’t have a car without one now.

I have always reversed into spaces and find it a pain to reverse out especially as I drive a small car and it can be hard to see past high-sided vehicles.

I was advised by an advanced driving instructor on a Drive and Survive course that women should reverse park whenever possible especially if you will be leaving somewhere at night where you may feel vulnerable e.g. an eerie multi-storey car park.

All I can say is practice and use your mirrors. It's easier to reverse park between two cars than by the side of one. Easier to reverse park beside one car than into an empty space. Pulling up just past the space you want and getting the angle right to start the reverse manoeuvre is key.

An hour with an instructor would restore your confidence.

I never reverse in a parking space pointless having the boot where it is difficult to access
I find it easier parking my little Vectra than my husbands large car even though it has cameras especially in those silly little parking spaces that are totally inadequate for large cars

I am very proud of my skills at parallel parking - or I was until three weeks ago when I got my new car! I used to drive a small car but this one is bigger, not much to me me it seems huge and I am scared to try!

My car has park assist as well as a reverse camera so technically it will park it’s self without me touching the steering wheel! But I need to find somewhere quiet to have a go before using it for the first time on a busy high street!

I usually reverse park as I've had a couple of near misses reversing out. I seem to be getting better at it. So definitely practise helps

Be careful with the parking assist a friend of ours had a lovely new BMW that would park itself Great for getting in tight spots but took him multiple maneuvers to get it out again

I've always been hopeless at reversing into parking spaces, especially parallel ones. I've just been parked in our surgery car park waiting for dh where I watched a very elderly lady park beautifully in reverse. I wish I could do it. Do driving schools give short courses in reverse parking and do you use your own car or theirs?

I always drive forward into spaces as well. Just habit, really.
I have not had any issues reversing out.

rosie1959

Be careful with the parking assist a friend of ours had a lovely new BMW that would park itself Great for getting in tight spots but took him multiple maneuvers to get it out again

Mine also has (allegedly) an assist to get a car out of a tight spot as well, the video clips of one doing it look amazing but I need convincing!

There are very few things I claim to be good at in life but my reverse and parallel parking is excellent!

You can't load the boot if you reverse in, Ex-Dancer! So carry on as you are, no need for excuses.

I am told I am a good driver but have always found reversing difficult, especially recently up a very narrow country lane with a sheer drop on one side and a wall on the other side.

Not one of the 6 or 7 drivers waiting to come up the lane thanked me for my efforts either.

Ditto Lucca! I used to live in a house that only had street parking and it was very much "first come, first served" as to whether you got a space or not. By the time I moved from there, I could reverse into a parallel parking space, between 2 cars, so well that I got a round of applause from the neighbours!

I almost always reverse into a parking space. Did a perfect, slow and careful backing into a space this morning at Waitrose.

I drive Toyota Yaris, so the boot isn't a problem. It is so small I find simpler and easier to put the shopping on the back seat. If I really do need to use it, the car is so short, I do not need to back in the full length of the space so can leave myself plenty of room to open the boot lid and look for the boot space.

I usually drive into a parking space, particularly if I need to open the boot. I never worry about reversing out. DH always reverses into a space!
Respect for this man in New York.
youtu.be/-GGfC5CA2M8

I call these parking spaces straight throughers and I love them. I hate reverse parking between two cars. I'm always scared I'm going to damage one of them. Don't mind reversing out though.

Drive through parking spaces are my ideal. If none available I’d rather reverse in than out, seems safer. We’ve recently changed our car and have a reversing camera. It helps hugely now I understand it. I’m happy reversing into a space, can cope with parallel parking if I really must. If anyone is really worried about reversing I’m sure an independent driving instructor would be prepared to offer a reversing refresher. Don’t forget men can have difficulties with it too.

Reverse parking is my Forte - my only Forte

I was beginning to think there was something wrong with my DH eyesight he’s 68 and for the last couple of years his parking is a nightmare, even if driving in it takes 3 attempts then he gets out and checks he’s in between the white lines ?

I have always reversed into parking spaces, I find it easier. Unless you have a very large car there is no need to reverse all the way back and there is still room to open the boot.

I had a courtesy car recently while my car was in the garage. It had a reversing camera and my brain just couldn’t use it properly. I gave up and stopped looking at it and thankfully no harm done.

The car I bought some years ago could park itself. It wasn’t a feature I’d ordered so I went back to the dealer to ask how it worked. They didn’t know, because they’d never seen one before!

My latest car (BMW) can park itself and get itself out again! Very clever! I mostly park it myself, though. I don’t want to lose that skill.

DH likes to choose a space with an empty space in front. He drives forward into the second space and is reverse parked with no reversing. Great until someone parks behind and you can't get to the boot!

I, more often than not reverse park, I find it more difficult not to because I am not used to forward parking. My friend avoids left hand reversing and will drive until she finds a suitable place because of it.