Why do pickup truck drivers back into parking spaces?
Better Visibility
Because it's easier to back in and get the truck centered the first time without hitting anything. Due to the steer wheels now being at the rear of the truck, it's easier to position the truck in a small parking lot with cars on both sides of the empty space.
Well, partly because you're backing up, partly because you have less visibility to see obstacles. Rear-in parking is safer, because you're combining the backing-up part with the ability to first drive by and scan for people and obstacles. You're less likely to back over something or somebody.
AAA says that backing into a parking spot "maximizes driver visibility and minimizes chances of striking a pedestrian or other vehicle". If you still don't understand why it's safer to back in than it is to just pull in, allow me to try to explain it.
High Traffic Areas
Some drivers may express frustration in high traffic situations if you opt for back-in parking because they may have to wait longer to drive through but ultimately, back-in parking is safer for everyone and will reduce car accidents.
The research showed that the risk of a fatal injury is higher for belted occupants in the second row of newer pickup trucks than in the front seats. While front seat safety has improved with advanced airbags and seat belts, the back seat restraint systems in these trucks were found to be inadequate.
Here's why: When we back in, we drive past the parking spot first, giving an opportunity to make sure it's clear. At that point, it's unlikely that someone will walk into your parking spot. And when it's time to pull out, we have much better visibility to spot cars and people moving through the parking lot.
Don't block the flow of traffic
Commenter planelover writes, “if you're parking in a busy parking lot, don't be that jerk that has to block traffic by backing into the space.” We'll elaborate more below, but the most decent thing to do is to take the first opening you see and pull right in.
The most common mistake that drivers make when backing up is failing to look both ways behind them. Mirrors do not give you a full view. To see as much as possible, turn your body and head to the right and look out through the rear window.
It seems that the drivers in the most productive and organized nations back into parking spaces. The study cited on NPR's Morning Edition said 88 percent of Chinese drivers take the time to back into spaces while only 6 percent of Americans do.
How do you tell someone to stop parking in your spot?
Put on your friendliest attitude and speak to the vehicle's owner. This is meant to be about learning, not to create an argument. Whatever their reason for parking in your space, it does not excuse their behavior, and it must stop. Next, notify property management.
Answer: I checked with Lt. Kevin Hamilton of the Fullerton Police Department. He said historically, the rule was originally designed for parking lots with shrubbery and trees when the wheel base from the rear to the front was longer. Cars would back into spaces and often damage the plants.
Driving a pickup truck requires an additional degree of caution because your brakes have to work overtime to manage the extreme weight of the automobile. It means you'll need to brake sooner and leave more space between yourself and other cars. Heavy trucks can't stop on a dime, so treat your pedals with care.
Here are some of the many reasons people back in: Ease of loading or unloading into or out of the vehicles cargo space. Tight turning radias, making backing and pulling out easier than a 3+ point turn. If it's easier to exit on the driver's side if you are backed in.
Legal in Some States, not Others
If your truck is not carrying cargo, however, it's a different matter. Some pickup truck owners prefer to drive with the tailgate down even when the bed is empty. Most states do not outlaw this practice, but a handful of states do have laws forbidding this.
Avoid pulling in front of a truck when traffic may stop or slow down. By doing so you take away the truck driver's margin of safety and risk causing a crash. The trucking industry stresses the importance of safe following distance.
Is it safe to ride in the back of a pickup truck? The short answer to this question is NO. Even the safest of drivers might have to swerve or come to a sudden stop. This can cause injury to passengers without seatbelts who are inside the vehicle.
It's easier to just pull forward into a parking space. That's why most people do it. Insurance company statistics show that it's a lot safer to back into a parking space, and that a huge number of accidents happen when people are backing out of a parking spot.
Damage to garage doors and walls: Backing into your garage without paying attention can also cause damage to your garage doors and walls.
The two-second rule is a rule of thumb by which a driver may maintain a safe following distance at any speed. The rule is that a driver should ideally stay at least two seconds behind any vehicle that is directly in front of the driver's vehicle.
Why should you look in your mirror before you stop?
When Braking: It's important to check your rear view mirror and side mirrors when braking to make sure that no vehicle is coming up too fast behind you (if a vehicle is following you fast and close, you can brake more gradually to give them enough time to react so that they don't slam into the back of you).
- Do not underestimate the speed of an approaching truck. Due to their massive size, large trucks may appear to be traveling slower than they actually are.
- Do not cut off a truck in traffic or on the highway. ...
- Never tailgate a large truck. ...
- Do not linger alongside a large truck.
Research has shown that millions of motorists regularly forget where they've left the car. Around a third of drivers, can't remember where they've parked at least once a month.
You start to feel the fight-or-flight response of adrenaline and cortisol flowing through your body, but you are trapped in the enclosed space of the car, and the task of finding a parking space is imminent. This means that your body's desire to run is not fulfilled.
Too many trucks, not enough parking spaces.
There are currently about 3 million tractor trailers on the road but only 300,000 overnight parking spaces, 90 percent of which are privately owned.
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