Back in or back out? Is there a real difference?
We are all creatures of habit so much that we rarely change what we’re doing until someone or something brings it to our attention. We do things that we always do hoping to get the same results. Does this sound like you? Well, now is the time to make some conscience changes to your driving that can benefit both you and other road users. Are you excited yet?
Every now and then I’ll drive my sons to school if the weather is bad and if my schedule allows it. The route that many people take to this school will make the roads in the school area very congested. It’s a residential area very populated with kids. Even though this seems to be a common travel path, we end up watching a resident back out of their driveway, often right in front of a moving vehicle causing that driver to hit their brakes suddenly. The resident seems oblivious to the danger he poses on himself, his vehicle and other road users by blindly backing out of their driveway. Does he realize what he’s doing is risky?
Since this driver seems to back out of their driveway each morning around the same time, it appears they’re off to work. To make it easier, they should really back into their driveway when they get home later in the day. What’s the difference? Driving forward out of the driveway takes less time than backing out and gives the driver better visibility when entering the roadway. Backing onto the road means you’re backing into possible risks such as other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
When they got home from work later in the day the school traffic would be gone and therefore become far easier to back into the driveway. Backing into the driveway means you can pass the driveway before entering it to see if it’s clear; such as no garbage cans, bikes, etc. There’s also far less risks you’re backing toward if you back into the driveway, so it becomes easier in that respect.
If you drive forward onto the road, you’re visibility would be improved and you could keep your motion going as you move into the traffic flow. Simple, huh? If it’s that simple, why are so many drivers pulling forward into their driveway and then backing out? Is it because their parents did the same thing? Is it because they’ve never really thought of it? Do they really even care? Only they know the answer to that question. Do you know why you do it?
And helps the CAA or AAA get in to boost your battery.
Wonderful point. I practise the same whenever I have to reverse while turning around in a small lane. It is much more comfrotable to reverse onto a smaller lane or onto a driveway so that final drive out becomes forward. In fact I feel this should be extended to all angular parking lots. Parking should be in reverse mode so that driving out becomes a breeze.
I find it hard to back in to parking spaces without adjusting my mirrors, so that’s why I don’t do it. I need one of those “circle” mirrors!
It can be difficult to back into your driveway here in the UK if it’s a busy narrow road. If the driveway is on the other side it can be almost impossible to manoeuvre enough to reverse in. So tempting to just drive in forwards and worry about reversing out later.
Where you really start to appreciate the back-in vs. back-out difference is in large vehicles like a Suburban or F-250. Often, they’ll need a 3- or 5-point turn to nose in to a narrow space, but will back in in one go (the front, the end that swings around, is in open space).
Combine that with the huge rear-quarter blind spots when backing such a vehicle into cross traffic, and the answer should be obvious….
My driveways are directly across the street from a house with a couple of smaller kids and a tree swing on their front lawn, which is a magnet for all the neighborhood kids. I always back into my driveway so I can keep an eye on them when I pull out.
Was taught to always back in during drivers education at Bell Canada. I always try to either drive through to a parking spot in a parking lot. Or back into a parking spot.
I think a lot of drivers just drive into a spot because it’s easy at that moment. But they don’t think of the next step—backing out.
I always back in at home. The house across the street is a magnet for all the neighborhood kids to come and play, and I want to keep an eye on them when leaving.