Now be honest ladies, do you reverse park or drive around till you find a space you can drive strainght in to?

logicalgal

We usually avoid what we aren't good at, and we are usually not good at something because we don't practice it, and so it's a problem for a lot of people because most people shop and therefore park at mall parking lots where they can just drive in and drive out (or back out)........and when they come upon a situation (garage sale, etc) where parallel parking is necessary, they have weak skills.
I teach Driver Education and so I'm not intimidated by parallel parking. I demonstrate it on a daily basis and therefore get lots of practice.
Many drivers are not comfortable or familiar with the "feel" of all four corners of their vehicles and drive within a small rectangle consisting of the driver's seat, steering wheel, driver's side of the windshield, and rear view mirror/driver's side mirror..............they tend to forget about the rest of the vehicle...........
I also see many drivers pulling "straight" into a parking space but totally misjudging their vehicle's distance from the curb. They consequently end up crooked with the front wheel hitting the curb and rear wheel sticking way out, or the entire vehicle is about 3 feet from the curb.
Most people drive out of their driveway to a mall parking lot and then back home again, and so have lost the skill (or never developed it) of steering backwards into a confined space. With practice it gets easier Just use reference points.
My apologies for rattling on and on, but driving is just a complicated issue for everyone, isn't it?
Oh, by the way, many of these drivers avoiding parallel parking are MALE too

Velvet

Sorry to not fit the stereotype!
I can park my 4x4 on a sixpence!

I say, if you can't park the thing why are you driving it?!

Shelley L

Why aren't you asking the guys the same question?

Jess

I learned to parallel park before I was trained to drive at the school I attended. Could park fine at 16 and can still do it at 55. Men don't own the patent on parking--I've seen plenty who can't back in, either.

princess

probably drive around because i just started driving and i don't like to reverse.

Angela M

I'm a wee lady and do any kind of parking. I was lucky, my driving instructor was a big fan of B&Q and had me park there most weekends. I always thought it was a wee bit cheeky, but I'm thanking him for it now!!! We also did many trips to the petrol station. What a boon..........

desert camel

never mind the women...I would drive around...

Mouse

OK OK OK i drive round till i can find a space i can drive straight into and even then i want at least a car length space in front and behind when I'm coming back out, i mean is this too much to ask for :-)

UCANTCME

I reverse park for my wife, its to complicated for her....and I dont need an insurance claim.....

Ray P

It is compulsory for women drivers to look for a space for a minimum of 2 cars and then park in the middle of it, taking up both spaces.

morbid_bean

I get a kick out of the whole turn the corner and pound the gas pedal while violently turning head in many directions to make sure no cars are around...if there is, slam on breaks allow car to pass then pound that gas pedal again.

I find it easier to reverse into a space, I quite like reversing but not with a trailer on tow.

Xanlwq

I drive straight into the car that's in my way!!! Whether it's a free space or not.

oohermissus

I drive around to look for a space to drive straight into........ I CAN reverse park OK, particularly now I've got a car with power steering, but I find that whoever is driving behind me is usually right up behind me, and too impatient to allow me time to reverse into a space

coltschik_024

reverse, i be damned if i am gonna waste time

â™¥ innocence â™¥

Oh how very droll of you to put this q in the "safety" category!! Or was that the auto-select option when you put "ladies" and "reverse park" in the same line?

I am learning to reverse park. I am doing very nicely thank you! I will do it on the day of my actual test ... I will never again do it in my entire life!!

It seems to me a remarkably bizarre manoeuver and I would sooner drive around (..and around...and around) to find a more accomodating space. As a matter of safety!! And if there wasn't one, well, I'd really question whether I needed to be there anyway and probably just return home.

By the way, I just love UCANTCME's answer - how adorably sweet and pragmatic. Wish we all had husbands like that.

Now you be honest Ahwell, how's your parking? There's a reason why you always end up with the old car. Isn't there!

Lola

I will parrallel park if I have to, but I'd much rather drive right into my space.

mustanger

I'm not female but can't understand what the big deal is with backing into a parking space. I know some places which will ticket you for backing into a normal 90 degree parking space as it is considered 'head in and back out' only.

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