Parking is one of the most essential parts of driving. However, most people may do it in the least safe way when it comes to parking lots. This is because it’s common to teach people to park front-first into a space. Despite how standard this method is, many swear by reverse parking their car. There are a few significant reasons why this method may be best. Additionally, it’s easier than learning the parallel parking steps. 

Here’s why some people believe reverse parking is the better way to go.

There are many advantages to reverse parking

Reverse parking isn’t as easy as simply pulling into a parking spot the normal way. However, this method has quite a few advantages. Perhaps the most important reason why more people should reverse park is safety. This is the case because it allows for improved visibility, which means you can see the area around you much better than if you’re using your mirrors or even a backup camera. 

The increased visibility also means it’s safer for pedestrians when drivers use reverse parking. This is important because the number of car accidents that happen in parking lots is a bit surprising. 

It’s also important to note that reverse parking is better for your vehicle in a few ways. For starters, it puts less wear on your breaks and transmission. This is because you engage both components in order to reverse, which can be taxing for both. Some people also feel that reverse parking minimizes dings from other people’s doors. 

This method is illegal in some places

Despite the advantages of reverse parking, there are a few reasons why only some people do it. According to Slate, it’s not legal to do in some parts of the country. States don’t have laws against the practice, but certain jurisdictions do. Some of these places have these laws because officials believe it’s less safe than parking the standard way.  

Some drivers don’t do it because they feel it increases the chance they’ll hit other cars. This is especially the case for busy parking lots. However, the rise of backup cameras should take away some fear since you’re parking and not pulling out where there could be oncoming traffic. Additionally, some people park the standard way because they don’t want to keep other cars from coming into the lot while they park. 

Still, reverse parking is a method that more people should consider. Sure, you may not want to do it when there are cars waiting to go by you, but it has several notable advantages. If people can learn the parallel parking steps, they can learn how to back into a parking spot.