Best way to park: Is it better to pull or back into parking spot?

It’s the holiday season, and you might be planning a trip out to one of those big regional shopping malls or even a big box store.

For Americans who engage in this annual ritual despite temptations to ditch it all in favor of virtual shopping carts, that might mean jockeying for the best possible parking space, somewhere within a few miles of your destination.

One age-old question remains, however.

Should you park forward or back in to your chosen parking space?

Gary Bubar, traffic safety specialist with AAA Michigan, said it’s actually better to back in if you can.

“What the research suggests is that any time that you can minimize your blind spots, when you exit the parking spot, you're less likely to have any kind of a fender bender or other mishap,” he said. “When you're backing out of a spot, there are multiple blind spots that can limit your vision and make it more difficult to see any drivers that might be waiting for your spot or coming down past you.”

Bubar acknowledged that backing in might not be a popular choice with every driver, but he said that probably has something do with comfort level.

“As drivers, if we don't practice something much, like parallel parking, we may not be comfortable doing that maneuver,” Bubar said.

But consider the times you’re at a garage − parking structure, if you insist − for a ball game or show. Many drivers who arrive early will back in to their spaces to make it easier to exit and boost their visibility as they do so, according to Bubar. When a line of traffic is crawling out of a parking garage, sometimes it’s also easier to slide out of a parking spot than hope someone will let you back out.

Technology can help in either case, whether it’s back-up cameras or systems that warn drivers of a crossing vehicle, even those that can tap the brakes if someone or something is too close or approaching. But Bubar said drivers should still utilize their own eyes or get help from other passengers to see what the drivers can’t, especially because no technology offering is perfect.

Not every parking garage or lot allows drivers a choice, sometimes posting signs telling drivers to pull in nose first. That points to the reality that drivers should probably stay flexible on these issues. Local circumstances and rules can vary, after all.

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Collisions in parking garages tend to be low speed so damage might not be severe, but good data is also harder to come by in parking garages because they are usually private property.

The key for backing into a spot is to make sure other drivers know your intention, by using your turn signal as you pull ahead to let someone know you’ll be backing into a spot, much like you would as you parallel park. Bubar said that should be the case even for drivers in vehicles with automatic parking features.

Communication and awareness are crucial regardless.

Drivers should also be watching for pedestrians, especially those who might be carrying packages and having trouble seeing, Bubar said.

He encouraged pedestrians in parking areas to also be watchful, especially for vehicles whose drivers might be primarily focused on finding a parking spot.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber.