Mirror unfolding

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Backing into spots is, indeed, safer. However, it's significantly more difficult and time consuming. The number of people I see taking 3, 4, or even 5 attempts to get into a spot is insane. Even the worst drivers can pull forward into a spot decently with 1 or 2 tries at most. Backing out is usually more forgiving space-wise, so it's easier than backing in.

Your post makes me think that driving skill tests should be required each time you renew your license. People who can't accurately aim their cars either need additional training, or to stay off the road.

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[Autolycus]

Disagree on all accounts.

Whether you pull in our pull out, it's a learned experience. You get out of it what you put into it--and as I'd mentioned, it's actually harder for me to pull straight in these days, due to my being accustomed to backing in. It's just like anything--muscle memory.

I don't know where you drive, but I'm going to avoid there like the plague. Most people I see backing in, like me, likely have done it consistently over a period of time and are plenty consistent. AT WORST, I might have to re-adjust and do a half pull back forward and then settle back in, but THAT'S SO MUCH BETTER and safer than halfway backing out to realize OH NO THERE'S A CAR COMING, and having to pull back into the space in a hurry.

Backing out is absolutely not more forgiving space-wise. I can't even fathom your thinking there. There's a reason when you parallel park that you BACK INTO THAT SPOT, AND PULL FORWARD OUT OF IT!

Umm... backing into a parking space that's 7.5-9' wide is significantly less forgiving than backing into a lane that's potentially twice as wide.

You parallel park in reverse because of the geometry of front steer, not because it's more forgiving.

EDIT TO ADD: Also remember that the VAST majority of a driver's time spent in a car is in drive rather than reverse. Every single driver has significantly more practice pointing the car where they want it to go while moving forward than they do while moving backward. We also spend most of our time pushing grocery carts with fixed rear and rotating front wheels. Yes, it's possible to learn to reverse well, but it does take extra practice and without that practice it is harder, slower, and potentially more likely to result in collisions.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I back INTO my garage, so I can pull *straight* out of my garage

This is the way. There's a reason that ALL bigger vehicles back into spots. Ever watch UPS enter someone's driveway, they are required by company policy to back in. There are spots where you can pull forward into and will not be able to back out of but the reverse is not true.

Backing in and pulling out is the safer way except in angled parking lots.

 

[Autolycus]

This is the way. There's a reason that ALL bigger vehicles back into spots. Ever watch UPS enter someone's driveway, they are required by company policy to back in. There are spots where you can pull forward into and will not be able to back out of but the reverse is not true.

Backing in and pulling out is the safer way except in angled parking lots.

My city's DOT keeps trying to find places to introduce reverse-angle parking spaces, but they keep getting denied by the Council. It would be safer, but it's a new skill. Residents had a hard enough time figuring out those newfangled things called roundabouts! ::sigh::

 

[R1Thor]

My city's DOT keeps trying to find places to introduce reverse-angle parking spaces, but they keep getting denied by the Council. It would be safer, but it's a new skill. Residents had a hard enough time figuring out those newfangled things called roundabouts! ::sigh::

Freakonomics had a really good episode about Roundabouts. I wish we had more of them. But exactly to your point--the reason we don't is 99% public perception (and misunderstanding).

Here's what I remind my wife...too often.
The average IQ is 100, and it's adjusted over time to continuously make the mean/bell-curve distribution...100.

So, this means that approximately HALF of the people we're sharing a road with... have IQs in the double digits...

 

[Autolycus]

Freakonomics had a really good episode about Roundabouts. I wish we had more of them. But exactly to your point--the reason we don't is 99% public perception (and misunderstanding).

Here's what I remind my wife...too often.
The average IQ is 100, and it's adjusted over time to continuously make the mean/bell-curve distribution...100.

So, this means that approximately HALF of the people we're sharing a road with... have IQs in the double digits...

Unfortunately, the reality is that road designs and our own driving patterns do have to work with those people also on the road. No matter how simple a roundabout should be, if a community simply cannot figure it out, it doesn't work in the real world. Jug handles, Michigan lefts, etc. are all solutions that work fine in some areas but that would be a disaster elsewhere because they aren't learned patterns from early driving -- or really from when we're just passengers in a car before we even start to drive ourselves.

We should keep pushing for better road design and for drivers to improve their skills and awareness, but we also have to realize there are a lot of bad drivers out there and a lot of drivers who will never figure out something that's considered basic in another part of the US or world.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Whether you pull in our pull out, it's a learned experience.

I'm quicker parallel parking than I am reversing into a spot.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Unfortunately, the reality is that road designs and our own driving patterns do have to work with those people also on the road. No matter how simple a roundabout should be, if a community simply cannot figure it out, it doesn't work in the real world. Jug handles, Michigan lefts, etc. are all solutions that work fine in some areas but that would be a disaster elsewhere because they aren't learned patterns from early driving -- or really from when we're just passengers in a car before we even start to drive ourselves.

We should keep pushing for better road design and for drivers to improve their skills and awareness, but we also have to realize there are a lot of bad drivers out there and a lot of drivers who will never figure out something that's considered basic in another part of the US or world.

Like a zipper merge. No one gets how that works and that letting traffic in properly makes EVERYONE go faster.

 

[Autolycus]

Like a zipper merge. No one gets how that works and that letting traffic in properly makes EVERYONE go faster.

Of course, those are made much worse by even a handful of people who want to blow past everyone else and merge aggressively into small gaps, forcing hard braking...

Can we just get rid of all human drivers please?

 

[DTown3011]

An Alexa command to fold or unfold the mirrors would be great. I fold them when pulling into my garage but don't want them to unfold automatically because it'd be tight pulling out.

They definitely unfold at something like 15-18 mph, which I hit while still in my subdivision. That works fine and I don't think is unsafe, but I would prefer a one-touch or voice command so I can do it more easily once I'm out of the garage but still in the driveway.

Backing into spots is, indeed, safer. However, it's significantly more difficult and time consuming. The number of people I see taking 3, 4, or even 5 attempts to get into a spot is insane. Even the worst drivers can pull forward into a spot decently with 1 or 2 tries at most. Backing out is usually more forgiving space-wise, so it's easier than backing in.

Agree, at this point I'd take an Alexa command and then proximity folding in a future update.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I wish we had more of them.

As long as they aren't all like this. ??

 

[SRO]

I back INTO my garage, so I can pull *straight* out of my garage

For me to back into the garage, I would have to back up a narrow 100’ driveway. While it is doable, It would be a pain in the ass.

 

[R1Thor]

For me to back into the garage, I would have to back up a narrow 100’ driveway. While it is doable, It would be a pain in the ass.

I bet you'd get REALLY good at driving in reverse, though

Question, then do you have to back 100' out of your driveway?? Either, way you're either backing up a ton, or you're being a bit misleading about the opportunity to turnaround when you near your garage, no?

Or do you like...exit out the backend of your garage directly into a one-way alley? At which point, I'd only ever pull thru myself!

 

[jeeden]

I would like the proximity folder or Alexa command for the garage at home. We fold ours in for parking there because even though the R1S will fit width -wise, it is too close for the wife's comfort to back out. Been a LOT of conversations with her that if I don't steer the car after entering the garage, it will exit the same path it entered on without hitting anything. She likes to "drive" aka "steer" it out of the garage though. Drives her nuts when I back out slowly with no hands on the wheel.

For the parking, l I like the automatically fold when locked, I can see the argument for freezing rain though for something parked outside.

For the backing into parking spots vs pulling in, I think most arguments for/against are just specific scenarios to support the position. I think commercial vehicles do it because of loading/unloading and visibility issues with no windows or cameras. Everyone else, I think they do it because of turning radius with huge vehicles and small parking lots, they like to pretend they are driving a semi, watch what is going on in the parking lot aisle, or they have anxiety about crosstraffic backing out vs backed up traffic backing in. I get anxiety backing into a spot because I always feel rushed with people following me up and down the aisles and people walking behind while I'm trying to back in.

 

[SRO]

I bet you'd get REALLY good at driving in reverse, though

Question, then do you have to back 100' out of your driveway?? Either, way you're either backing up a ton, or you're being a bit misleading about the opportunity to turnaround when you near your garage, no?

Or do you like...exit out the backend of your garage directly into a one-way alley? At which point, I'd only ever pull thru myself!

I have to make a four point turn at the landing and with the turning radius of the T it’s a pain. It’s a lot easier to make the turns after backing out than before backing in. Honestly, If I was better at backing I could do it either way. It was sure a lot easier with my Bolt.

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