We want to know what’s better – backing into a spot or pulling straight in? We aren’t talking about at car shows either – it’s pretty universally accepted that you back in so when your hood is up people can check out your engine. We are talking about in your daily driver, which way do you normally park?

Recently we came into this discussion with some fellow colleagues. An intense debate happened for quite some time which different reasons being brought to the forefront. For me though, I’ve always backed into spots. I find it easier to back in, and way easier to pull out. I also think it shows a bit of pride that you care more about your vehicle than your average pull-in door dinger driver. There’s no scientific proof of that, just how I feel.

There are plenty of times when I don’t back in though. If I’m going to the grocery store, I don’t back in so it’s easier to load groceries. Or if it’s a diagonal directional spot then I can’t either.

But let’s take a deeper look at this deal and why backing in is the superior parking method.

Note From Chad: When driving a normal car, ie not my squarebody Chevrolet crew cab dually, I pull in a parking spot front end first. When I am driving the dually I will back in so that the dually fenders aren’t sticking out and making it hard for other people to pull in or get out of their car next to me. But in any normal car, not during a car show, I pull in front end first. It’s not harder, doesn’t make pulling out any more dangerous in my opinion, and in general just makes the entire process of parking quicker which helps everyone out. Why? Because the average person is, well, incompetent when it comes to backing into a spot. They just are. No amount of backup or full view cameras can help most horrible drivers, so I pull in as quickly as possible and then get out and go about my business. Tim is a back it in kind of guy. And that’s okay, but I’m not a fan. We agree to disagree. But some folks take backing into spots much more personally, and just can’t stand it. What do you think?

For Safety’s Sake

Backing in is just safer. When you go to pull out, you have a completely unobstructed view of pedestrians and other drivers. When you have to back out of a spot you have to rely on your mirrors and there’s blind spots where somebody could be standing. Back-up cameras have helped mitigate this issue but hell, I don’t drive anything new enough that has a back-up camera.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that “267 people are killed and 15,000 injured each year by drivers not parking forward first, usually in driveways or parking lots.”

It’s More Efficient

When it’s time to leave, it’s way faster to pull out of a spot than to back out. When it’s a busy street or parking lot this is very helpful. Let’s say a group of renegade ninjas is coming to steal your Chipotle burrito and you need to make a quick getaway – you’ll be glad you backed in.

On a serious note though parking lots can become bottlenecks. Cars and trucks that have to back out of a spot into traffic lanes contribute to this congestion as you have to leave a big enough area for them to back out. And let’s face it, lots of drivers are inconsiderate. If you’re sitting there with your back-up lights on waiting for them to stop, they might not. But when you can quickly pull out and wave a quick “thanks” people are much more likely to let you into the flow of traffic.

Better Turning Radius

Why do forklifts have rear-steer? Because it’s easier to maneuver. You can make turns easier and tighter than if the front wheels turned. Think about pulling into a spot. When backing in, the steer wheels are now in the back allowing you to get into the spot easier. If pulling in, your steering wheels are in the front which isn’t as precise. When you’re driving a bigger truck like I do(crew cab Silverado), the ass end can be hard to get over and centered into the spot.

Professionalism

Most professional drivers and companies promote backing into spaces as a standard practice. Backing-in shows a higher level of skill and consideration for others, as it reduces the risk of delays or accidents. Plus it just looks nicer and that’s a good enough reason for me.

Let’s hear it in the comments – are you a backer-inner or puller-inner?