Okay, after nearly getting into an accident AGAIN at Target this week, I decided to bring up this subject. Maybe I'm wrong and getting worked up over nothing...
Here's the deal: Almost any time I'm in a large parking lot, and I'm attempting to back out of my parking space, a car who is "just passing through" comes flying past me causing me to slam on my brakes.
Sometimes they are way at the other end as I begin my back-up, sometimes they actually turn into my aisle after I've begun backing up. But, clearly, each time, I've begun to back up FIRST before their approach.
What is your understanding of parking lot etiquette? Who has the right of way in this situation? It seems no one ever yields to the car in reverse unless they are waiting for that parking spot.
Tell me people, do cars in a parking lot yield according to who started first or do cars backing up always yield to cars driving past? For my sanity, I must know!!!
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I've been on both "sides" ... and I've been told that if you are the one backing up that you are at fault if an accident occurs ... therefore, I believe the cars coming through have the right of way ~ it doesn't matter how far or close they are to you. Lesson learned: I always pull out very slowly and ALWAYS watch out for cars passing thru & let them go by. I also pass thru very slowly & watch out for cars pulling out of spaces. Having said that, we should always be courteous drivers ... Better yet, I think I'll just take the bus!
ReplyDeleteYou have the right away as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to be backed up into!
ReplyDeleteI hate this one too! "Back in the days" we were taught to yield to a car backing out of their spot. That was before everyone was in such a #$%^#$ hurry. Ahh, the good old days. Technically though, I believe anyone impeding traffic (the backer) is supposed to yield to traffic.
ReplyDeleteIt is annoying though, and RUDE. Kindness anyone?
I think that if you see a car backing up and still forge ahead you're taking a big risk because they may not be able to see you very well, especially if there is a large car parked next to them. I always yield to the backer-upper to avoid any chance of a fender bender.
ReplyDeleteIf someone's already backing up, it's only polite and right to let them go first. What's 5-10 more seconds anyway? It's not like it's too inconvenient to the driver passing through since you can't be going more than a few miles an hour anyway.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely on your side! If someone has already started to back up prior to my entering the row, I yield to them.
ReplyDeletePoliteness and law are different though. I do have a co-worker whose car was backed into as they were passing through the work parking garage. The person that was backing up was held responsible by the insurance companies.
A parking lot is private property so when it comes to "rules" it's up to the drivers being polite. I always figure the person backing is at the disadvantage so I stop for them. The only time I don't stop is when I didn't see the person backing until I'm behind them.
ReplyDeleteThis is why folks in Japan generally back into a spot. I've heard people are most likely to have an accident back up in a parking lot than anywhere else. Unfortunately, I've had the pleasure of a Target bump in. Be very weary of parking on the ends. I was hit by a car turning into the lane as I backed up from the 2nd space on a row. The vehicle was clearly no where to be seen when I started backing up but turned down the lane too quickly & was missed as I looked left, right...back...
ReplyDeleteIf you have clearly already started backing up they should stop. People are so rude!
ReplyDeleteI just do what I have to so that I don't get hit. Sometimes that means yielding when I don't necessarily feel I was "required" to.
ReplyDeleteYep, I always let the person backing up finish what they were doing.......but there are soooo many times when I practically get nailed when I'm backing up and I have to pull all the way back in and take a deep breath! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI am always cautious trying to back out when I can. I have gotten in the habit of aprking where there is no one else and park with the nose of my car headed out already. Makes for a quick getaway.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of parking lot scares, today as I was getting out of my vehicle, this car comes zooming into the space right next to me and scared the crap out of me and just about took my door off.
It happened to be a family of 4 and Dad was driving.
It is more *polite* to let the car backing up continue, but legally the backer must yield to the passer. The ticket would be given to the backer, no matter how fast the passer was going!
ReplyDeleteAs in many things, not fair, but them's the rules.
Legally speaking, I asked my cop husband, and the person in reverse is nearly 100% of the time said to be at fault. He told me this the other day as the same thing nearly happened to us! I don't think it's fair or right, but apparently, it's the way it is! Be careful. : )
ReplyDeleteI don't know who technically has the right of way but that crap ticks me off too. Especially when they honk at you while doing it!!!
ReplyDeleteThe way some of these morons come flying through parking lots is ridiculous. They don't pay attention, cut through rows and have near-misses with other cars. Be careful when backing up. Although it sounds unfair, my guess is that if you were backing up and they hit you, they'd say it was your fault.
ReplyDelete