Is it safer to reverse into a car park or drive nose-first?
The simple act of pulling into a car park is dividing Queenslanders.
While there is advice touting the safety advantages of reversing into a car park, driving nose-first into a car park is considered more practical by many.
No matter what side of the fence you’re on, the issue has sparked debate among Queenslanders.
In a letter to the editor in the autumn edition of The Road Ahead, RACQ member Gretchen Ward disagreed reversing into a parking space was quicker and safer.
“I dispute this because most reverse-park drivers take far longer to park, juggling back and forth, blocking the flow of other vehicles,” Ms Ward said.
However, after a callout on RACQ’s social media channels asking what Queenslanders thought on the topic, the other side of the debate (reversing into a car park) was widely favoured.
“Reverse parking is generally the better option and with the prevalence of reversing cameras these days it is way easier too,” one Queenslander responded.
“Reverse parking is so much safer when exiting as you can see everything around you more clearly,” another said.
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Some respondents sat firmly on the fence, with one saying the way they approached car parking depended on the purpose of their trip.
“If I’m just parking, I will reverse in but if I intend to shop and need access to the boot, I’ll nose-in,” one respondent said.
RACQ’s Manager of Road Safety and Technical Joel Tucker said there were advantages for both sides of the argument.
“Whether you drive into a car parking space nose-in or reverse in, at some point you could be reversing your car,” Mr Tucker said.
“Reversing into a car park gives the advantage of being able to drive out and some people find re-entering traffic safer and easier this way as they have better visibility.
“Parking nose-in means that you could have better access to the boot of the vehicle and your vehicle’s reverse lights turning on (when exiting) can also communicate to approaching traffic and pedestrians that you intend to leave the space prior to moving.”
Mr Tucker said whenever you approached a car park, it was always important to put safety first.
“The best advice is to assess the situation and do what you think is safest each time you park,” he said.
“It is also important to obey all road rules, like only reversing if safe to do so and only reversing as far as necessary, if you choose to reverse in or out of a space.”
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