I pull in for grocery/shopping as it's easier to load before leaving. I back in when parking in a parking garage; that way if I have vehicle issues (older vehicle/college days), it is easier to get to the engine/battery.

I wouldn't know, but it just seems that it'd be the complete opposite. You don't have to maneuver at all when you pull into a spot. When you back in, there's quite a bit of maneuvering involved.

 

You're the guy who literally never parks straight, aren't you? :lol2:

I've done both over the years. Looking back, I'd have to say the two determining factors that come into play are these:

 

1.) What's the traffic like when you arrive? If there's two-way traffic (Kroger) and there's either cars coming the other way, or somebody riding my rear...I'll often pull in, since it's quicker.

 

2.) What's the pedestrian traffic going to be like when I leave? If I'm going to a Reds game, concert, event at the convention center, and there's going to be a lot of people potentially leaving at the same time...I definitely try to back in. You absolutely have to be able to make eye contact with people when you're leaving, otherwise these morons will walk right in front of a moving vehicle.

 

Because their face is buried in that phone they're walking with.

I pull in for grocery/shopping as it's easier to load before leaving. I back in when parking in a parking garage; that way if I have vehicle issues (older vehicle/college days), it is easier to get to the engine/battery.

 

Typically back in anyway, but always do it when I take the old beater to the airport for that reason.

I back in at work in my truck. 50/50 anywhere else.

I will back in on occasion if there isn't much traffic. But one of my biggest pet peeves is people who back in while a garage or lot is overly congested or filled with traffic. It slows everyone down. But for the most part I can pull through anytime I park. If I do have to back out of my spot I got a rearview camera and sensor so no big deal.

Why does whether you're driving a car or truck make a difference?

 

I was wondering that as well.

 

It has to do with turn radius and pivot point.

 

A smaller vehicle has a much tighter turning radius and can almost completely pivot on the rear tire in the direction you are turning. One rear tire basically stays in the same spot and the other rotates around to align you with your spot.

 

A larger vehicle like a truck can't do that going forward, but can going backwards. You basically set the rear tire in the direction you want to go, as your pivot point, and rotate around it so your vehicle is in line to to back straight in.

Very seldom back in.

 

Randy Parker *screaming* "Pull in! Pull in!"

 

Old Man Parker *through clenched teeth* "Sit down, you're blocking my view while I back in, you little ... "

 

It comes down to what others have already said: backing in gives more manuverability, and better sight when pulling back out especially when the vehicles parked on both sides of you are vans or large SUVs. Majority of accidents in a parking lot happen when someone backs out of a space.