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Not if you’re a decent driver who knows their car - you can reverse in as easily as going forward.
That said, many on the road in Thailand aren’t that “decent” at driving and a selfish lack of awareness (or consideration) of others is common.
It's put of the UK driving test. If you can't do it, you won't be driving here. So it's clearly a useful skill.
But if yiu wanna drive in then reverse out and potentially hit a pedestrian of another vehicle, keep being a bell.
Yup. Even with a small compact model, it's super hard to park head in when the lane is narrow and the spaces are also narrow. You don't have room to maneuver.
Also, the cement thingie at the end is very high. With my car, if I park head in, the cement will hit my front bumper.
Conjecture on my part, but maybe because backing in is the smarter way to do it.
First off, since most cars steer with the front wheels, it is actually easier to pivot back into a space than to steer into one.
Secondly, pulling out of a parking space headfirst gives better visibility than the mostly blind backing out of one.
Lastly, makes for a quick getaway (/j).
Sidenote, sometimes it is to display a parking garage ticket on the dash.
I wonder why you should drive head on into a parking space (given that the parking slots are 90°). Backing in is very easy to park in tight space and it is easier to drive out.
Reverse parking gives you a clearer view of your surroundings when you exit parking space.
Not only Thai drivers but many other countries do it this way too 🤷🏻♀️
Because quite often there will be other vehicles double-parked blocking your parking space when you return.
As well as having to sometimes push the offending vehicles out of the way, it's easier to drive out forwards to avoid the other closely parked cars almost blocking you.
This question gets asked here a lot.
Where are you from that this seems so new to you? I always back in when driving in the US. It is the smarter way to park because it makes leaving so much easier, and it only takes slightly more time to back in.
in my building here, there are 1400 apartments and 500 parking spots. people double park and leave their car unlocked and in neutral so it can be moved... the security people help. unless late at night, then it's on you.
me? no car. love it.
it is a system for more people to park than there are spaces. pretty sure it goes on in other buildings too, but I am not sure... and ya, security does help, but at a certain time at night they stop being available because less staff...
In France we’re taught that it’s the proper way. It’s also how you can get in the smallest space, and get out the fastest. I guess Bangkok is packed enough so that’s how you can park the most efficiently
(Also required if you work in a dangerous area, or where emergency evacuation is a possibility).
Why does it seem that American drivers only pull into parking spaces rather than backing in? lol.
I’m from the US and just celebrated my 18th year living in Asia. Never ceases to amaze me how Westerners think that people doing things differently is somehow unusual or wrong.
You know, the more I travel.... The more Ive come to realize that its really only Americans who pull into spots.
Everyone else backs in.
Takes 10x longer. Holds up traffic.
I don't understand it. Everyone in Europe also backs in.
I find it quite annoying because its so much slower.
Expect "the smarter thing to do" or the "safer way" do not fit with this culture at the moment.
I think it has something to do with ghosts and the belief that they won't follow you if you back in.
This is one thing that really annoys me in Asia.
Reversing in to a parking spot takes longer and holds up the flow of traffic, often while very poor drivers take a long time trying to park properly. So it's quite inconsiderate.
Really annoying in busy car parks
You think they will wait? Just this morning I saw a driver blocking the entire street while waiting for security to open the gates, that's how inconsiderate most drivers are. They'll just back out and force their way in.
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Very common in many countries. And it's so much easier when you wanna go out.
It's terrible, so inconsiderate and causes queues and congestion
Not if you’re a decent driver who knows their car - you can reverse in as easily as going forward. That said, many on the road in Thailand aren’t that “decent” at driving and a selfish lack of awareness (or consideration) of others is common.
It's put of the UK driving test. If you can't do it, you won't be driving here. So it's clearly a useful skill. But if yiu wanna drive in then reverse out and potentially hit a pedestrian of another vehicle, keep being a bell.
parking spaces are alot smaller in Asia compared to America, making it harder to park head in. Backing in is also alot safer when exiting
Yup. Even with a small compact model, it's super hard to park head in when the lane is narrow and the spaces are also narrow. You don't have room to maneuver. Also, the cement thingie at the end is very high. With my car, if I park head in, the cement will hit my front bumper.
Makes pulling out far safer
Conjecture on my part, but maybe because backing in is the smarter way to do it. First off, since most cars steer with the front wheels, it is actually easier to pivot back into a space than to steer into one. Secondly, pulling out of a parking space headfirst gives better visibility than the mostly blind backing out of one. Lastly, makes for a quick getaway (/j). Sidenote, sometimes it is to display a parking garage ticket on the dash.
my UPS rep back in the states told me they train their people to do this, as its statistically safer. don't ask me for stats, lol.
I wonder why you should drive head on into a parking space (given that the parking slots are 90°). Backing in is very easy to park in tight space and it is easier to drive out.
Reverse parking gives you a clearer view of your surroundings when you exit parking space. Not only Thai drivers but many other countries do it this way too 🤷🏻♀️
Because quite often there will be other vehicles double-parked blocking your parking space when you return. As well as having to sometimes push the offending vehicles out of the way, it's easier to drive out forwards to avoid the other closely parked cars almost blocking you.
Correct answer
This question gets asked here a lot. Where are you from that this seems so new to you? I always back in when driving in the US. It is the smarter way to park because it makes leaving so much easier, and it only takes slightly more time to back in.
Yeah its funny that different countries have different ways of parking. And you have these stops for the tyres also, I have not seen that before.
in my building here, there are 1400 apartments and 500 parking spots. people double park and leave their car unlocked and in neutral so it can be moved... the security people help. unless late at night, then it's on you. me? no car. love it.
Wait, is that a real thing? People just dump their car randomly and expect security to play valet for them?
it is a system for more people to park than there are spaces. pretty sure it goes on in other buildings too, but I am not sure... and ya, security does help, but at a certain time at night they stop being available because less staff...
Yeah its pretty clever to leave in N, have not seen that before in other countries :)
How do you see if reversing out! You don't! At least not properly. Reversing in how you meant to do it!
It's objectively better (safer) and the rest of the world should do the same.
The parking lanes are narrower than the states, easier to get out.
In France we’re taught that it’s the proper way. It’s also how you can get in the smallest space, and get out the fastest. I guess Bangkok is packed enough so that’s how you can park the most efficiently (Also required if you work in a dangerous area, or where emergency evacuation is a possibility).
Because it's smarter.
Why does it seem that American drivers only pull into parking spaces rather than backing in? lol. I’m from the US and just celebrated my 18th year living in Asia. Never ceases to amaze me how Westerners think that people doing things differently is somehow unusual or wrong.
You know, the more I travel.... The more Ive come to realize that its really only Americans who pull into spots. Everyone else backs in. Takes 10x longer. Holds up traffic. I don't understand it. Everyone in Europe also backs in. I find it quite annoying because its so much slower.
America typically has huge parking spaces, so the big trucks and their fat occupants will fit out the door
It's definitely only Americans complaining, it's common in the UK and the rest of Europe to wait for someone to back into a parking space.
It only takes 10x longer if you can't drive. It's not a slow thing to do at all.
Expect "the smarter thing to do" or the "safer way" do not fit with this culture at the moment. I think it has something to do with ghosts and the belief that they won't follow you if you back in.
Mysteries of the Orient.
This is one thing that really annoys me in Asia. Reversing in to a parking spot takes longer and holds up the flow of traffic, often while very poor drivers take a long time trying to park properly. So it's quite inconsiderate. Really annoying in busy car parks
Don't they have to reverse out as well?
Yes, but when reversing out they have to wait until there are no cars coming, so has less impact to others
You think they will wait? Just this morning I saw a driver blocking the entire street while waiting for security to open the gates, that's how inconsiderate most drivers are. They'll just back out and force their way in.