Nitwits and their backup cameras

[Capt W]

Although I think backup cameras can be a handy addition to a driver's toolkit, their virtual omnipresence seems to be causing unintended consequences in terms of driver courtesy. For example, why is it every Tom, ****, and Harry is suddenly compelled to back into parking spots at busy locations? Just came back from a very busy Home Depot, where I encountered three such occurrences. So let me get this straight. In order to save 15 seconds when leaving your parking spot, people will block both lanes as they attempt to carefully back into their spots upon arrival. And nobody seems to get it right on the first try. I just watched a guy (about 137 years old) take seven attempts to get his car backed in somewhat straight. Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth...while five or six of us are simply waiting to pass by. The electronic gadgets have not only eroded basic skills, but have also taken a huge bite out of basic courtesy as these people are either totally oblivious or simply don't care about inconveniencing others for the sake of their convenience. Although it can be somewhat comical, it seems to just be getting worse.

To be clear, I'm not taking about folks who must back in or position their vehicles in a particular way. This would include people with pickups who need easy access to their beds, handicapped-equipped vans, etc. I'm talking about Tom Smith in his Sonata and Sally Jones in her Acadia, who decide to back in just because they want to.

There's also a safety component at work, as many drivers seem to solely rely on their cameras instead of turning their heads. Many times I've watched drivers back out of their spots, eyes fixed on the camera feed. Unfortunately, most cameras' field of view does not include areas (or pedestrians) adjacent to the vehicle, so there's usually that "Oh, crap!" moment followed by a quick mashing of brakes. "Heck, I didn't see 'em!"

A recent Hyundai (or maybe Kia) commercial highlights this perfectly. A dude and his family are cruising in their SUV and are at an old-fashioned drive-in restaurant. As they are leaving, the dude almost squashes a car-hop walking behind the vehicle. Luckily, the Hyundai Safety Suite saved the day and everyone lets out a sigh of relief. Funny thing is, the driver in the commercial never even turned around to check his surroundings...it was reverse-gas-go-BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Brakes!! This is sadly becoming more and more of a frequent occurrence.

Just like TPMS has apparently relieved most people (not BITOG-ers) of regularly checking tire pressure, these silly cameras have inadvertently relieved a lot of people from the painful burden of turning their heads.

The news flash for these people is this: Electronic safety aids are supplemental. Basic driving skills still apply. Or do they?

 

[4WD]

It’s going to be alright

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Other than the passive aggressive types of sit in a space knowing you're waiting on them there's nothing more tilting than people who back into parking lots on a busy day. I see it at my Costco, and grocery store. The grocery store lot is hilarious because the parking spaces are angled based on the flow of traffic but nope drivers will still insist on performing a 250 degree turn so they can back in to an angled space.

 

[Capt W]

why is it every Tom, ****, and Harry

Sorry...Tom, Richard, and Harry!

Hope I don't ever have to reference **** Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve, comic strip detective **** Tracy, or former VP **** Cheney!

Getting a little silly here...

 

[opus1]

...There's also a safety component at work, as many drivers seem to solely rely on their cameras instead of turning their heads. Many times I've watched drivers back out of their spots, eyes fixed on the camera feed. Unfortunately, most cameras' field of view does not include areas (or pedestrians) adjacent to the vehicle, so there's usually that "Oh, crap!" moment followed by a quick mashing of brakes. "Heck, I didn't see 'em!"

None of my fleet has backup cameras but I've had rentals that did and I have to admit that, despite knowing better, it's easy to become fixated on the screen and miss things I would see if I didn't have the screen and my head was in constant swivel-mode while backing out. Still not an excuse.

 

[MNgopher]

My employer specifically trains us to back into parking spots where it makes sense (angled parking is not one of those scenarios).

Our parking lot is about 2/3rds pull throughs and back ins - you can tell who the field staff vs office staff are...

Interestingly, one of our major categories of vehicle damages is backing incidents. Since we went to the back in/pull through guidance I can state our incident numbers have decreased.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I think people just want to brag and show off their backup cameras

 

[Leo99]

My employer specifically trains us to back into parking spots where it makes sense (angled parking is not one of those scenarios).

Our parking lot is about 2/3rds pull throughs and back ins - you can tell who the field staff vs office staff are...

Interestingly, one of our major categories of vehicle damages is backing incidents. Since we went to the back in/pull through guidance I can state our incident numbers have decreased.

I've been a visitor to facilities that had that rule. Someone told me they were new and pulled front in and got scolded. I was told they parked that way for easier evacuations. The invent of backup cameras didn't start this behavior.

 

[MNgopher]

I've been a visitor to facilities that had that rule. Someone told me they were new and pulled front in and got scolded. I was told they parked that way for easier evacuations. The invent of backup cameras didn't start this behavior.

Correct - it did not start with backup cameras.

Which scenario presents more opportunity for conflict? Backing into an unoccupied space or backing out into a lane with cross traffic?

With over 1000 fleet units, the trends are statically valid as to what has happened since our policies were revised a few years ago...

 

[goblin]

I think no one takes into account that most options nowadays are fundamental to the models they are incorporated in, and that cars are built around their options, not the options built around the cars.

This is not new by any means.

Back in the time, and all the way into the 90s, French automotive reviewers would always take points away for "...insufficient ventilation...", and would gloat how some Toyota would have a puny hvac fan and would take ages to defog a windshield, whereas a Peugeot would blow your perm away when the fan would be at maximum.

What they didn't account for was that only in France were the importers of Japanese cars cheap enough to specify - explicitly - an AC delete to save a buck. The same car sold in Germany or Switzerland would come stock with an AC, and would defog and cool down in minutes. The funniest part - French cars sold there would often have an AC as well. This made for more fun, as some French models had the client choose between AC or power steering (because afterthought, and it's one or the other taking the same spot)

This changed only when the Ford Mondeo came stock with an AC and caused a cataclysmic event on the car market. There were accusations of irresponsibility (but monsieur, ze AC it conzumes more gasoline), press articles and whatnot. Ford laughed at it, and everyone was forced to adopt it.

Long story short - most modern cars with a reverse camera have ZERO natural visibility. With a dead camera, the driver is basically blind, and they can turn around till they get their own gravity pull without getting a square inch more of useful visibility.

Same for external mirrors with no alerts - with the idiocy of aspherical mirrors being prohibited in the US, my BMW's mirrors are pretty much useless. It took me to drive one to realize why BMW drivers have their own fame.

As for tire monitoring systems - G. bless them !!!
I challenge anyone living in New York City in an appartment building to accurately maintain tire pressure. Air stations always busy, charging 2 bucks in quarters, with an invisible stick gauge. Good luck with that. I can play hero with that, but none of the women in my household would be able to, even if they wanted to.

Travel through Pennsylvania - free air stations, mandatory, automated, clean, visible - now we're talking.

Real life is always tri-dimensional. There's alway a reason for the madness.

 

[Hall]

why is it every Tom, ****, and Harry

That's ridiculous.... What if that is a member's name and they aren't even allowed to use it ?

compelled to back into parking spots at busy locations?

It's easier to leave and I don't care what others think.... I don't have a backup camera and the extra 9 seconds it takes me to pull past before backing up isn't going to hurt anyone and if it does, they can get over it.

 

[4WD]

My employer specifically trains us to back into parking spots where it makes sense (angled parking is not one of those scenarios).

Our parking lot is about 2/3rds pull throughs and back ins - you can tell who the field staff vs office staff are...

Interestingly, one of our major categories of vehicle damages is backing incidents. Since we went to the back in/pull through guidance I can state our incident numbers have decreased.

Our office requires that kind of parking - but get there early and you can pull through

 

[goblin]

I don't have a backup camera...

Good - then your car's visibility does account for that lack, and the designers actually put some thought into making things so you can see without one.

 

[Hall]

Good - then your car's visibility does account for that lack, and the designers actually put some thought into making things so you can see without one.

No, it actually has horrendous rearward visability, all the more reason I back into spaces. Plus, no matter what, anytime I might have pulled in fowards, SUVs or minivans or trucks are 100% guaranteed to park on BOTH SIDE OF ME !

 

[dubber09]

It happens here everywhere too, it seems that most everyone is backing into parking spot for some reason even if they actually block access to their own trunks. Every store parking lot. I understand if it were just new drivers who were taught to do this, but older folks do it too. I try to stay away from those who backed in as they will have to bring their carts between cars and there is a chance they ding or scratch your car.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I back in 98% of the time. What's the difference (to OP) or for my safety and accident avoidance? I have to back up either way at some point into or out of that spot. I have much better visibility pulling out forward SLOWLY to watch the oblivious people on their phones. If I pull in at busy places, when I need to back out, there is normally one person waiting for the spot with like 5-6 others behind him waiting to go around. NONE of them will actually move or allow you to back up far enough without a couple point turn to clear. Some will sit and block me from pulling or backing out because they are waiting for a different spot.

Some of my cars have camera's, some don't. I use it as a tool along with turning my head and using the mirrors. Backing into the spot affords better maneuverability to swing the car straight in that spot, like a forklift with rear steering. How many people do you see that need to back up three times to try and get straight pulling in the spot because they cut it too tight and are at crazy angle but after multiple attempts gave up and left it crooked anyway. The people in the aisle waiting would not allow enough room to actually swing wide enough to pull in straight.

Old school from there and as I was taught by dad. When your battery is dead from age or you left something on which way is easier to get a jump start at least with cables, jump packs now make that easier if you have one. My wife and kids all back in 90%+ of the time. My daughter pulled in one night up at school facing slightly downhill and facing a 6 foot high rock wall. It was raining and she left parking lights and interior light on for 3 days before she got back to car. Not even enough power to unlock the doors.....or the electronic trunk release. No way for the 3 girls (or even larger guys) to push it out of that spot. Where was her jumper cables and her jump pack? Yup by the spare tire. The 2 spots to left and 2 to right next to her ended up with large trucks, contractors, not working or around for the weekend. Luckily we figured out that emergency hatch release hidden behind a small access plug in rear trim. She now keeps her jump pack between the front seats (it's a CRV).

Try it some day backing in. I find it much safer IMO. I watch the people trying to back out often and see how they parked originally.

Normally for me Costco/BJ's/Supermarket I wind up pulling in but will wait and swing a bit wider or drive a bit further down the line. Why? because when I come out with my cart full-o-crap, it needs to go in my trunk or hatch area. Trying to get to that when it's backed in and blocked is much more difficult.

 

[spasm3]

I back in a lot, especially with the truck. I just rarely use the back up camera!! I can't back up without looking around behind and beside me.

I think it may be a very good aid for older citizens and those that have limited spinal movement. The cameras i've seen are better than an elderly person backing with just the mirrors.

I really don't get bent if I have to wait a moment for someone to back into a space.


I think there is such a lack of manners and courtesy now. If I am walking in a parking lot and I see a car backing out, I stop and let them back out and go on.
I see people constantly walk behind a car that is already starting to back out, or even already moving. Either not raised right, or there are a lot of narcissists out there.

 

[Pew]

+1 I 'back in' whenever I can. I won't do it if there's a car behind me or in a crowded parking garage but I normally park in the side or back half of parking lots where there's less people and enough spots to pull through. It makes it way easier and safer to pull out of the spot; I cannot trust that a driver or pedestrian crossing behind me will be polite enough to slow or stop for me backing out when I cannot see them when turning my head or in the backup cam.

 

[Capt W]

I challenge anyone living in New York City in an appartment building to accurately maintain tire pressure.

About 95% of the time I maintain my pressure with a bike tire pump. Depending upon tire size, I get one pound for every 6-8 pumps. Much easier this way if you only need a pound or two...and it actually takes much longer for me to fire up the compressor and wait for pressure to build, drag out the hose, etc. Keep a pump and gauge in the trunk and check when cold (as you're supposed to). Simple.

 

[ammolab]

If you are constantly waiting for some one to park…you are parking too close to the store!

Go out 50 yards or so, park in twenty seconds and get some exercise walking in. I can’t believe the conga line of cars in the middle of the lane waiting for some dude to load his trunk and leave. Just so they can park near the store. I’m in and out sometimes before they park….and I’m 79 years old!