Is this parking lot rage?
I was brought up in such a way to respect other people. There should be no time when my actions should be considered as selfish actions as an inconvenience other people. For example, I will often hold the door open for someone who is following me or has their hands full that opening the door would become difficult, even though I may be in a hurry. I try to think of others whenever I can. I also take this attitude into the vehicle when I’m driving. Do you do the same?
Recently, a colleague of mine had passed through this parking lot and saw these vehicles all parked close to each other. Based on what I could see, the white van on the right was parked first and had to park slightly on the line as the vehicle on their passenger side was off-centred in their parking space. The driver of the white van was courteous enough to allow room for the driver of the vehicle to their right to enter their vehicle. However, the driver of the car to the driver’s side of the white van seemed to care less about the driver of the white van. (Confused yet?) Was this on purpose? I think it had to be since their vehicle was also close to the parking line to their right. Why would they do such a thing?
Considering the driver of the car had more than enough space on the driver’s side, I personally feel it was intentional. Were they annoyed with the driver of the van for parking partially in “their” space? Were they trying to “punish” the driver of the white van for parking where they did? The driver of the white van is now basically stuck in that space, unless they can make it through the back of the van into the driver’s seat. If that area of their van is blocked, they’ll have to wait for one of the two drivers to return to their vehicle before they can get into their own vehicle. Can you say major inconvenience? Can you say frustrated? Can you say unjustified?
For the driver of the car beside the van, did they even have to park in a space that narrow? Could they have gone into a different space? Even if that was the only remaining space available, you really do have to remember about revenge. What could the driver of the white van do to the car to “get back” at the driver of the car for parking so close to the van? Would you consider this to be “parking rage” instead of road rage?
The thing to remember is that not only should we be courteous drivers, but also be courteous parkers. Do whatever you can to make life easier for you but also for those around you. After all, my friend karma still visits parking lots too.
More times than not this situation is started by one driver who either doesn’t care how they park, or their skills are not sufficient to park properly (or courteously if there is no predefined rule of proper vs improper parking). Believe me I encounter it a lot as a driver as more times than not the car on my left is situated in such a manner to facilitate the most amount of space to that driver, or even 6 inches over the line. When I drive my mother around I like to minimize the walking distance for her, and allow enough space for her to exit/enter freely without the need for concern to a vehicle on my right. I don’t normally get out. So yes, It means that yes if that is space that will allow my mother the shortest distance to her destination and avoid her dodging cars through out the lot, then I too will hug as far to the left as I can, and if that means the car that is 4-6′ into the spot i’m using, though it may be an inconvience to them if they return with the need to access their passenger side, I’m sorry about your luck, perhaps you should practice properly parking more, and reflect on your level of courteousness when you park prior to getting enraged..