A short rant on drivers in parking lots

[barbara-cook]

I just need to vent. I am absolutely FED UP with drivers that think they can drive any which way in a parking lot!

Today is probably the third time in a month when some idiot was driving cross lots. Actually this person was behind me at one point and then when I started to turn into a parking space, he was coming at me from the front on the driver's side. Then he waved me on like he was doing me some huge favor. Even if I hadn't been there, he would be driving between parked cars. What if someone was standing or walking there?

Can these people not follow the lines on the parking lot? Do they know what they are doing? Just once I'd like to be brave enough to let one of them hit me, but I don't want my car messed up.

Get with the program people! before you hurt someone~!

[mbrogier]

I know how you feel. I almost got t boned by some @** doing that at about 30mph one.

People's entitlement issues astound me.

[funniegrrl]

Don't get me started on people who absolutely insist on backing into spaces, no matter how many tries it takes, and how much they hold up traffic. Their being able to pull out of a space rather than back out trumps anyone else's needs to find a space and park in a reasonable amount of time.

Oh. And people who park over the dividing line between two spaces so that there's a couple feet of space on either side of their precious car.

[Robyn1007]

Don't get me started on people who absolutely insist on backing into spaces, no matter how many tries it takes, and how much they hold up traffic. Their being able to pull out of a space rather than back out trumps anyone else's needs to find a space and park in a reasonable amount of time.

Oh. And people who park over the dividing line between two spaces so that there's a couple feet of space on either side of their precious car.

Normally the backing in annoys me if there are people waiting but I've learned something in the last couple of months. It is much easier in snow and ice to get out of a snowed in spot going forward than going backward because you have no momentum, so now I understand a little more. I have been backing in to my apartment space because of that, I certainly don't want to get stuck when I leave for work at 6:30. :)

The other thing that annoys me is the people who think parking lots are speedways. I watch from my office window every morning while the same 3 cars going flying by, no matter if there is someone walking along or not.

[funniegrrl]

It is much easier in snow and ice to get out of a snowed in spot going forward than going backward because you have no momentum, so now I understand a little more.

We get snow maybe a handful of times here. And, the most annoying instances I've run across have been in parking garages. :P

[charley]

Don't get me started on people who absolutely insist on backing into spaces, no matter how many tries it takes, and how much they hold up traffic. Their being able to pull out of a space rather than back out trumps anyone else's needs to find a space and park in a reasonable amount of time.



This was a new one for me, but it's actually been proven that it's safer to park backed into a spot, because you're more aware of your surroundings when parking, than when leaving. Dh's company REQUIRES all employees with company vehicles to back into parking spaces.

[momcancook]

I will back into a parking spot, just so I can see when leaving. I am so afraid of backing into a small child, since apparently most children (and parents!) around here are not taught to be careful around moving traffic! :confused:
I can also easily spot the people racing down the aisle the wrong way!!:mad:

[Kay Henderson]

I'm reminded of the driver we had a few years ago who creamed ten cars in the parking lot before crashing into the grocery store itself. The paper reported with a straight face that it was being investigated whether alcohol was involved.

Happy shopping!

Kay

[vbak]

I don't understand why some motorists find it so difficult to park when the lines are covered by snow. Okay, you can't see the lines, but can you not see that you have parked with 1/2 space or more from the car next to you? Is it so difficult to line your car up without lines? Geesh.:(


Vicky

[pointerhaven]

Drivers in general are rude, but parking lot drivers are crazy. I often want to let them hit my big truck...but on private property you cannot envole the police, unless is is like the instance below.

On my way to work there is a small shopping center with entrance and exits onto two streets, people are always cutting thru to miss the traffic light and move into the industrial park. The other day as I was coming up to the backed up light traffic, three driver decieded to cut thru...Hhehehehehe, here's where the fun comes in. At the other exit sat two county police, they just pulled their crusiers into the exit, stopped all three and gave them tickets, one guy who was directly in front of me didn't even wait to get the the entrance, he just drove over the grass to enter the parking lot....There was a third officer just past the entrance that he "missed" and he pulled in behind him. GOTCHA!!!

[Robyn1007]

On my way to work there is a small shopping center with entrance and exits onto two streets, people are always cutting thru to miss the traffic light and move into the industrial park. The other day as I was coming up to the backed up light traffic, three driver decieded to cut thru...Hhehehehehe, here's where the fun comes in. At the other exit sat two county police, they just pulled their crusiers into the exit, stopped all three and gave them tickets, one guy who was directly in front of me didn't even wait to get the the entrance, he just drove over the grass to enter the parking lot....There was a third officer just past the entrance that he "missed" and he pulled in behind him. GOTCHA!!!

Oh, that's great! I hate the people who pull that kind of sh*t. Last week there was a sting on a freeway where they were pulling people over who crossed into an entrance/exit lane where there was a solid white line. From what I hear they got quite a few people that day. :p

[FruitsAlive]

I have this problem all the time at work. The city I work in is a well known retirement spot and I'm in the health care industry, so I'm surrounded by medical offices. Most of the people who park there are elderly and many probably shouldn't be driving anymore. I've gotten much more tolerant of the parking between lines or halfway into the aisle...I've even gotten good at dodging racing golf carts and spotting them pulling out of McDonald's. What really gets me is when they drive on the wrong side of the road and shake their fists at me for getting in their way. I know this is probably going to make people angry, but there really should be an upper age limit for driving. It's just not safe for anybody.
Oh, and it's not parking lot related, but I HATE when I'm getting on the freeway and the person in front of me is cruising like it's Sunday afternoon on the boulevard.

[luv2cook]

Don't come to Houston, then. People here don't know what a yield sign is, change lanes in moderate traffic w/out a signal (re: side swipe) can't negotiate 4-way stop signs.

but one of my biggest pet peeves that happens everywhere: people who leave their shopping carts either in a space or behind or to the side of your car!

As I was leaving Fiesta last week, I caught a woman leaving her shopping cart next to my car which was parked next to one of those for cart drop. I made a point of grabbing the cart and pointing to the cart deposit thing. She was backing out. Meanwhile, I took the cart and basically gave it a swift shove in the direction of the cart drop. She got out and said to me, "I am just so distracted today. It happens to everybody, even you" as she was walking over to push the cart further into the cart drop.

Yeah, right. She was caught. She could barely open her door from where she left the cart. no way. I didn't say anything and kept putting my groceries in the car.:mad:

[barbara-cook]

I'm glad I"m not the only one out there that gets bugged by these other drivers. Today I had a woman in front of me, on the main street, going about 25, where the speed limit is 40. We'd had a little snow, but the roads were well cleaned. Well, I gave her the benefit of the doubt, until I could smell the cigarette smoke in my car, from her car. Sure enough, when I pulled up next to her at the light, to make a turn, she was puffing away. If you're too afraid to drive even close to the speed limit when there is a little bit of snow, go sit somewhere to have that smoke. (And this woman was probably in her 50's.)

I read in the weekend paper that some states are lobbying to make almost everything you do in a car illegal. Cell phone use (unless you have a head set) is already illegal here in NY. These people were talking about making eating, sipping coffee (or other drinks), and a lot of other stuff illegal. Most of it is common sense, so it's rather stupid. But they want to ban reading (?), any type of grooming, playing musical instruments (I kid you not!), and fussing with any contents of your car (kids, pets, cargo).

I guess pretty soon we will need to have pre-programmed, auto-pilot cars where our hands are strapped to the wheels!

Please be careful out there!

[boisewinesnob]

but one of my biggest pet peeves that happens everywhere: people who leave their shopping carts either in a space or behind or to the side of your car!


I know. How hard is it to be considerate of others and put your cart back in a cart corral? Really.


I think my biggest peeve is people in parking lots who hold up 15 cars behind them to wait for a spot that someone is backing out of. It may be, oh, 20 feet closer to the door :rolleyes: . I have seen people waiting for someone who is still walking to his/her car.

[TKay]

People's entitlement issues astound me.

Amen to that. That's what boggles my mind most.

[gertdog]

I think my biggest peeve is people in parking lots who hold up 15 cars behind them to wait for a spot that someone is backing out of. It may be, oh, 20 feet closer to the door :rolleyes: . I have seen people waiting for someone who is still walking to his/her car.

The other day I took DS to Target with me and happened to snag a space very close to the entrance, which was nice because it was a very cold day. I had DS in his stroller b/c I only need to pick up a few small things and didn't need a cart. I come out of the store and a woman looking for a parking spot sees me opening the car. She stops and puts her blinker on. I put DS in his carseat and buckle him in. Then I put my purchases in the car, and start to fold down the stroller. The woman HONKS at me and throws her hands in the air when I turn to look at her! Hello? She could see from the outset that I had a child and a stroller to deal with, and it's not like I was dawdling in getting everything in the car, b/c it was fricking freezing outside. I was so mad!!

My parking lot peeve is the people who pull through two spots so they're facing out when they leave. It's one thing to do this when there aren't other cars parked nearby, I guess, but more than once I've turned into a spot, only to almost run into someone who is driving into it from the next aisle over. Grr.

[luv2cook]

think my biggest peeve is people in parking lots who hold up 15 cars behind them to wait for a spot that someone is backing out of. It may be, oh, 20 feet closer to the door . I have seen people waiting for someone who is still walking to his/her car.

I think it's amazing that they do it at the health club where i workout! I mean, come on. You're there for EXERCISE! I can understand at prime time stalking people and waiting, but in the middle of the afternoon or morning. gimmeabreak!

[boisewinesnob]

The other day I took DS to Target with me and happened to snag a space very close to the entrance, which was nice because it was a very cold day. I had DS in his stroller b/c I only need to pick up a few small things and didn't need a cart. I come out of the store and a woman looking for a parking spot sees me opening the car. She stops and puts her blinker on. I put DS in his carseat and buckle him in. Then I put my purchases in the car, and start to fold down the stroller. The woman HONKS at me and throws her hands in the air when I turn to look at her! Hello? She could see from the outset that I had a child and a stroller to deal with, and it's not like I was dawdling in getting everything in the car, b/c it was fricking freezing outside. I was so mad!!



Stephanie, I think I would have been tempted to get DS back out of his seat and go back into the store ;)

[Hammster]

I think the only parking lot "infraction" that really bugs me is people driving down the aisle against the flow. This is so incredibly dangerous on many levels. When I back out of a spot I rarely look in the opposite direction of flow because that isn't supposed to be the way cars come from. I've learned over the years to look both ways because of this problem though.
Then there is just the problem with not being able to get out of the aisle when someone is coming the wrong way. It happened one time where I was waiting for someone to back out so I could get the parking spot. It was Christmas time and the lot was full. A young girl drove into the aisle going the wrong way. She honked her horn at me and yelled for me to move out of the way. Wasn't going to happen. I told her to back up and go around the right way. She basically wanted me to fix her mistake. Amazing. So, she finally relented, backed up and went the correct way around. After I'd parked and was walking to the store, she still hadn't found a spot and took the opportunity to pull up next to me and let me know what a jerk I was. And yet, she was in the wrong. Hopefully she learned the lesson that she has to fix her own mistakes. (But probably not)

[LaraW]

Last week there was a sting on a freeway where they were pulling people over who crossed into an entrance/exit lane where there was a solid white line. From what I hear they got quite a few people that day. :p

Was that along 36 getting off at Broomfield? I have to admit to doing that. :o

[Beachside]

I think the only parking lot "infraction" that really bugs me is people driving down the aisle against the flow.

...After I'd parked and was walking to the store, she still hadn't found a spot and took the opportunity to pull up next to me and let me know what a jerk I was. And yet, she was in the wrong.

:p :D What a *jerk* you were Hammster--to be right & stick it out ;) :D (Good for you!)

Confession--I am a *backer-inner* and a *drive-thru-er*. I think it is not the action being done (backing in/backing out/driving thru/ etc) but rather the driver who is doing it!:rolleyes: ;)

Backing in is safer than backing out (how a full size van is *not seen* I do not know, but I have been hit twice at the back by drivers who did not see my van) & I back in faster than going in forward--usually in one attempt, unless I have a driver who zooms up to me before stopping, causing me to rush & then I have to pull forward again to get in between the lines.

I also like driving thru where I have room to straighten out & don't have to back out & in to get between the lines (but not if someone is signaling to take that spot)-- because that is even faster than backing in & gives the same opportunity to drive out forward.

When I drive thru I am careful to be sure the next row has "two-way" traffic cos I don't want to go the wrong way...but more than once I've gone "whoops"--it is a one way row & I'm facing the wrong way. :o Then I'll sheepishly *look carefully* & drive the wrong way--before someone wants to go the right way down the row (no Hammster--that wasn't me...I haven't been a young girl for a few years!)

[Valerie226]

Oh. And people who park over the dividing line between two spaces so that there's a couple feet of space on either side of their precious car.[/QUOTE]

What REALLY burns me is when someone purposely parks diagonally across up to THREE (yes, 3) spaces to make sure no one can park next to them. Usually a big honking Hummer. What if we all did that?? Only the first few people would be able to get within a half mile of mall entrances.

I've watched bad drivers struggle to get a normal size car straight in a parking space and end up on a bizarre angle so they make the spaces on either side unusable. I am not parking my decent car anywhere near anyone whose aim and judgement are that bad. If they can't get in, why should they be able to get out without hitting everything in the way?

[Robyn1007]

What REALLY burns me is when someone purposely parks diagonally across up to THREE (yes, 3) spaces to make sure no one can park next to them. Usually a big honking Hummer. What if we all did that?? Only the first few people would be able to get within a half mile of mall entrances.

I've watched bad drivers struggle to get a normal size car straight in a parking space and end up on a bizarre angle so they make the spaces on either side unusable. I am not parking my decent car anywhere near anyone whose aim and judgement are that bad. If they can't get in, why should they be able to get out without hitting everything in the way?

That reminds me of one I saw a few days ago. I went to park at my post office to check my po box at around 7pm (people park there all the time to go to the restaurants around there), tried to pull my Civic into a spot but realized that someone had parked over the line so far that there was no way I could get in with room to get out of my car. As I'm leaving I see that an Accord (bigger than my car) had pulled into the spot. They left enough room for them to barely get out of the car and about 4 inches on the other side. Now how was the poor guy next to him supposed to get into his vehicle? And it wasn't that guy who parked wrong in the first place, it was the guy on the other side. :rolleyes:

[luv2cook]

Now how was the poor guy next to him supposed to get into his vehicle? And it wasn't that guy who parked wrong in the first place, it was the guy on the other side.

I'm sorry, I don't have any sympathy for the guy. He took that space regardless. When I had my older car, I would never park in spaces like that - for just that reason. I have had people do that to me when I've been parked normally - fortunately not that often.

Two weeks ago, I was parked on an end spot and some jacka$$ parked so badly that I could barely squeeze into my car. I got out and wrote him a nasty note about learning how to park.

[Robyn1007]

I'm sorry, I don't have any sympathy for the guy. He took that space regardless. When I had my older car, I would never park in spaces like that - for just that reason. I have had people do that to me when I've been parked normally - fortunately not that often.



Umm, I think you misunderstand me. I feel bad for the guy (next to the idiot who parked in the bad space) that was parked correctly and had been since before I got there.

[newtricks]

. I had DS in his stroller b/c I only need to pick up a few small things and didn't need a cart. I come out of the store and a woman looking for a parking spot sees me opening the car. She stops and puts her blinker on. I put DS in his carseat and buckle him in. Then I put my purchases in the car, and start to fold down the stroller. The woman HONKS at me and throws her hands in the air when I turn to look at her! Hello? She could see from the outset that I had a child and a stroller to deal with, and it's not like I was dawdling in getting everything in the car, b/c it was fricking freezing outside. I was so mad!!


Even when people don't honk, this just makes me feel rushed. Or it did when I had the double stroller, three kids that I had to buckle in, stuff to put away, etc. It felt endless!

But if someone had ever honked at me it would have slowed me W A Y Down.:p

[greatcook]

Slightly off topic-

I was driving the other day, down a street that gets a fair amount of traffic, and the car in front of me stops. Completely stops in the middle of the road. I'm sitting there, wondering what the heck is going on- when I realize the car is not moving I go around it, and guess what?

It's some girl on her cell phone, looking around kind of confused.

Are you kidding me? PULL OVER! I was so angry- when did it become ok to stop in the middle of street to have a chat on your cell phone?

[barbara-cook]

We have a snow day here - no school, but the roads are passable. I took my son and two of his friends to another friends house on my way to taking my step daughter back to her Mom's house. We came to a 4 way stop and a car to the right of us slowed down (but didn't stop) and the driver was on the cell phone (illegal in NY state).

My step daughter is currently taking Driver's Ed and I asked her what the driver had done wrong. She caught the not stopping, but missed the cell phone. When I pointed that out, she said she would definitely need a BlueTooth (is that a head set) when she gets her license. Well, at least she know's it's illegal and that she can use a head set.

I'm just glad that no one else was in the intersection when that careless young lady made her decision not to stop.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

[luv2cook]

I've got one for ya. They're doing construction on the feeder road. It's two lanes plus a ramp lane to get on the freeway. Yesterday I'm driving in the ramp lane and fortunately for me I was paying attention. I had seen a car sitting on a side street before i approached the main backup.

My lane was a straight, clear shot to the entrance ramp. enough space opened up for this woman on the side to get in. She BOLTED like a shot through the two lanes and right in front of me! How incredibly freaking stupid do you need to be???????? She could NOT see. There's NO way she could have seen my lane or even seen me there. I thought maybe she might do that, altho I had no way of knowing so I wasn't going that fast. But she's really lucky. I could have nailed her.

This was one of those times I wish the horn on my car was more obnoxious!

[testkitchen45]

My dad, who's now 84 and still an excellent driver with zero accidents to his record, taught me so many things that have saved my life. He taught me, put simply, to expect that the other person is going to be an idiot. :D I never go on a green light but wait for the morons who'll run the red . . . I assume when getting into the right-turn lane that someone's passing me on the shoulder . . . that sort of thing. It's amazing how people will express their impatience (and entitlement, right mbrogier??? :) too true!) with a 4,000-pound projectile.

And don'tcha love the people who do the rocket-ship zoom backward out of a parking space, THEN check if someone's right behind them??

[cchhbb]

Last night I had a meeting at my church. This church has about 3000 members and as a result has a huge parking lot. I walked out of my meeting with another woman to find out her car was essentially pinned into her parking space by a small station wagon. The person parked so closely to her that she had to get in on the passenger side and climb through. She was scared to back out even with me watching so we ended up walking the entire church trying to find the driver. After 45 minutes or so a couple of men came out with us and helped us. We ended up picking up the back end of her car and shifting it over a couple of inches so she could get out. There were tons of empty parking spots, but the station wagon driver had to pick this one.

[mbrogier]

My step daughter is currently taking Driver's Ed and I asked her what the driver had done wrong. She caught the not stopping, but missed the cell phone. When I pointed that out, she said she would definitely need a BlueTooth (is that a head set) when she gets her license. Well, at least she know's it's illegal and that she can use a head set.


I think new drivers have no business being on the phone while driving. It's hard enough to pay attention to everything you need to when you're first learning to drive without chatting it up on the phone.

My parents also didn't let me drive with friends in the car when I was first learning. I totally agree with this rule. I've seen too many girls weaving in and out of traffic around here with their friends in the car. I've almost been hit a few times. Once I was behind two cars of high school kids--one filled with girls and the other boys. They were more interested in flirting with each other and racing than being safe drivers. It was scary.

I got a cell phone when I was in college. I didn't use it when I drove, and that was pre-headset days. It's hard to multitask, and even harder when you're a novice driver.

Pulling through to park is the safest way and is recommended by car insurance agents. (My mom's best friend is a district manager for an insurance company and told me this.) You just have to be aware of who is around you so you don't hit anyone. Backing up in parking lots can be dangerous, especially with children running around.

I also think it's irritating for people to use up extra spots to park their special vehicles. I don't try to park close to them to irritate them, though because you don't know who you're dealing with. You don't want to set off some freak.

I agree on the shopping cart issue. I always return my cart because I can't stand having loose carts hit my vehicle.

[HejazSunKat]

I will back into a parking spot, just so I can see when leaving. I am so afraid of backing into a small child, since apparently most children (and parents!) around here are not taught to be careful around moving traffic! :confused:


Yes, me too. I much prefer to drive out of a space forwards so that I'm completely sure of what's going on around my car. I hope people would prefer the evil of waiting the extra 30 seconds (if that) while I back into a space over my hitting their kid when I leave. I do it because I don't want to hurt anybody.

[Krysia1031]

I also think it's irritating for people to use up extra spots to park their special vehicles. I don't try to park close to them to irritate them, though because you don't know who you're dealing with. You don't want to set off some freak.

On Sunday I went shopping to pick up a few things and low and behold there was someone who had a nice Mercedes and took up 2 spots. The worst part about it was that they are redoing the entire parking lot and half of it was closed of for repairs. Some nerve, how inconsiderate!! :mad:

I also hate the people who have huge cars and try to squeeze into tiny spaces. Someone once showed me this little sign. It has a Mickey Mouse on it sticking up a center finger and there was a quote:

"Thanks for parking so close. Next time, leave me a &@$#$^% can opener so I get in my car. People like you should take the bus!"

It was too funny!