I see it everywhere in Thailand. Shopping malls, condo parking-lots etc. Thais always back-up (reverse) to a parking spot.

It's quite ironic considering that this country, and especially its roads/traffic, are chaotic. But the one thing the Thais seemingly have come to agree on is how to park a car. Unfortunately (in my opinion) they chose the wrong way.

I really see no point in reversing into a parking spot. In fact, to me it makes much more sense to go head in and back out.

1) It's easier/faster to go head in AND it's easier to back out into a large parking lot than to back INTO a small parking-space.

2) Access to trunk. If you're at a shopping mall it's very likely that you want access to your trunk. This will be much easier if you go head in. You can simply open your trunk when you approach the vehicle, put your bags in the trunk, and reverse out.

I'm from Europe and while you do see the occasional back-up parking (which they teach you in driving school) for practical reasons people mostly go head in.

Can anyone tell me if this type of parking is common in other countries and why?

It's because the guards are there to help people reverse in but they don't help people reverse out. Your debate however is perfectly logical.

in, especially, cramped, busy parking lots, dunno about anybody else, but it sure is easier for me to drive out of a parking space, than to juggle the arse end of the car into the traffic.

Same goes for the driveway at home, it's crazy sometimes to watch idiots reversing out into, and disrupting the traffic flow.

Opening a trunk in the 'protected' confines behind a reversed car - sounds great to me. Better than getting me flesh-arse swiped by some idiot driving down to close to the line of parked vehicles.

The main advantage of reverse parking is safety.

While reversing into a parking space the obstacles and vehicles in the area you are reversing into are stationary, because your view and likely your coordination are poorer while reversing then stationary obstacles are an advantage over reversing out of a parking slot into other traffic in the car park.

Loading your shopping into the boot of your car away from the traffic flow is also safer than standing in the traffic flow to load your goods

Great thread to have a Voting Poll on...

Hell....reversing out into oncoming inexperienced drivers who stop and cant figure out to back up for you, about a car length,(or wont) is probably more likely to cause a scratch and dent than anything i can imagine.....But my missus reverses in so i just get out and have a cigarette while she does it....she prefers to drive out also....

I always park with my arse first, and always succeed to do it in one manoeuvre.

If you ask me to park, head first, I will be there a month later trying to park the bloody thing.

It's how you used to.

Geez, what is the big deal? i back-in park all the time. What business is it of yours, OP?

it's all good - also luv seeing how missus-thai can squeeze (wiggle) her arse-end into tight spots

Sharper turning radius when backing a vehicle....you'll find many cramped auto shops put lifts in at odd angles and back the cars to get them on the rack creating more revenue producing square footage.....

I generally just drive straight into a parking space and reverse out.

You're right though, they all do it - even in malls where the car would be backed up to a wall - I have no idea how they get the shopping into the boot.

When shopping I roll the trolley over to the back of my car, open the boot and load it up. I buy between 4 to 6 packs of 6x1.5L bottled water each time I go, I lift it out of the trolley and drop it straight into the boot of the car.

Before reversing out I take a quick look to see if anything's coming.

I completely ignore the idiots with the whistles, I have no idea what they're meant to be doing - they seem to keep blowing the whistle no matter what's happening around you.

heh heh it really pisses them off when you ignore them eh!!

Because it's easier to drive straight out when it's time to leave rather than wait for some bugger to let you to reverse out which they will normally only do if they want your space. Anyone in Phuket that goes to Central over the weekend will know exactly what I mean.

SDM

Reversing in to a parking space when shopping is a better idea in my view.

Having had my car reversed in to, by some women parked in the opposite parking bay in a Tesco's car park....I would disagree with the OP slightly, as shopping can block the make up mirror.

Again - better turning radius backwards + oddly angled narrow spaces .......

At my UK head office (with a multi-story parking facility), it is considered a 'Reverse Parking Only' site.

They gave the reasons as:

Six good reasons to reverse park.

1. Reverse parking is important. It is much safer for pedestrians.

2. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) states reversing into a space means cars are in a safer position for pulling away. At the same time, the manoeuvre could help in terms of vehicle security and fuel economy.

3. Reverse parking is advised in the Highway Code.

4. Reversing into somewhere you can see – a parking bay – rather than reversing out into somewhere you can’t see, is much safer.

5. It is also easier to control a car going forwards than backwards when first started. Attempting a potentially high risk manoeuvre such as reversing when you have just entered a car and are not concentrating fully, is more dangerous.

6. "Reversing out of a space when the car's engine is cold uses around 20 to 25 times more petrol in the first few seconds than it does when warm," explained an IAM spokesperson. If you do this 10 to 12 times a week that adds up to a cost of about £100 a year, not to mention the increased wear on the car's engine.

I do tend to reverse park wherever possible.

However, some of the carparks (e.g. Tesco Lotus at South Pattaya) have slanted parking bays where reverse parking is not really appropriate. So I just drive straight in and reverse out - makes loading up easier.

But I do have a chuckle when I see some intrepid drivers, usually female, making every effort to reverse park into these slanted bays. It tends to be a tricky manoeuvre, both in and out. Maybe they just think that everyone else is a numpty, rather than themselves!!

this is one thing the Thais do correctly and well IMO.

Considering the the crap quality of batteries in Thailand that die without warning and need replaced every two years, it makes it much easier to jump start the car with cables.

this is one thing the Thais do correctly and well IMO.

no not really, look at the lines they are supposed to be between and in the middle of. Most cant even park between the lines let alone so they leave room either side of their car, they have never been taught to do so. Overseas to get a licence you must be able to reverse park/parallel park between 2 cars and reverse in a straight line over a set distance, here they dont even have to drive in traffic let alone park a car properly to pass their test.

I watched a lady try 5 plus times to reverse park her car between 2 lines and kept failing, there were no other cars anywhere near her and she eventually got the parking attendant to do it, they are hopeless. The only reason they reverse park originally is because they know they will not be able to reverse out later on so they take several goes at doing it the first time.

Reverse parking in Thailand is by far superior to forward parking. As long as you keep checking both mirrors while reversing it is impossible to hit a car parked on either side of the free parking space, whereas going in front first you are relying simply on your feel and since the lanes are small if there is a free space to your left you will often end up in awkward positions trying to make a left turn into the space.

And then exiting the parking space it is much easier and safer to pull out then to reverse out. Loading the boot away from traffic is also safer.

If the parking lines are slanted than it is fine to go in front first and it is likewise significantly easier and safer to reverse out.

this is one thing the Thais do correctly and well IMO.

no not really, look at the lines they are supposed to be between and in the middle of. Most cant even park between the lines let alone so they leave room either side of their car, they have never been taught to do so. Overseas to get a licence you must be able to reverse park/parallel park between 2 cars and reverse in a straight line over a set distance, here they dont even have to drive in traffic let alone park a car properly to pass their test.

I watched a lady try 5 plus times to reverse park her car between 2 lines and kept failing, there were no other cars anywhere near her and she eventually got the parking attendant to do it, they are hopeless. The only reason they reverse park originally is because they know they will not be able to reverse out later on so they take several goes at doing it the first time.

Overseas to get a licence you must be able to reverse park/parallel park between 2 cars and reverse in a straight line over a set distance, here they dont even have to drive in traffic let alone park a car properly to pass their test.

This is incorrect. Reversing and parallel parking are part of the Thai driving test.

Considering the the crap quality of batteries in Thailand that die without warning and need replaced every two years, it makes it much easier to jump start the car with cables.

In always wondered about that and whether it's the weather conditions or the quality of the battery. At home I get five years but as you say here me, and most of my pals, only get one or two.

SDM

I always park with my arse first, and always succeed to do it in one manoeuvre.

...

Ah, my dear man ... a gift who keeps on giving.

If you really wish to have pleasant stay in LOS, throw the "Why" question out the window. They do it, accept that and move on.

seems like the OP is in a rush to get to his favorite buffet....

or is it the 'Reverse' of that?

or is it the 'Reverse' of that?

I think he's looking for some backing!

If you really wish to have pleasant stay in LOS, throw the "Why" question out the window. They do it, accept that and move on.

The best advice for any foreigner in Thailand, eliminate the word "why" from your vocabulary! It is not required here and only leads to frustration.

As a Thai lady of my aqaintance would often respond sharply to a "why " question in a dalek-esk tone she didn't want to answer "not why", with no further comment or explanation.

SDM

definitely time to back away 'SDM'