car bump

[hairless]

just reversed into the front wing of a car causing a little damage, from a supermarket car parking space. The driver of the other vehicle says they shouted at me to stop, but of course i couldn't hear them. I looked once and not again to make sure the roadway was clear and they didn't sound the horn to worn me not to reverse as they were passing. I thought I was at fault but other people seem to think the other driver should have stopped. Who is correct, please?

[Ethel]

You were at fault - the other driver was driving normally and correctly.

When reversing you should keep constant all round observations and not proceed unless you are sure the path is clear. It is far safer to reverse in to the space.

[derekpara]

I agree with Ethel except for her last sentence, I never park next to another car in a supermarket which has reversed in; I've seen too many vehicles trolley-scraped when the owners try to get through to their boot.

[hairless]

Cheers for the input folks, that's what I thought.

[sandmaster]

derekpara I agree!! If you reverse into a supermarket car park space how do you load shopping into your boot without squeezing between cars?
In our local bus station buses have to reverse out of the bays - if a bus has its reversing lights on passing buses give way.
I know this is not the law - but it is something I try to practice in car parks. Saves hassle.
Ethel - I would normally agree with you about reversing into car park bays. But.......are you the only woman driver who knows how to reverse?

[ruggief]

My husband would say my reversing is great it's the driving that worries him!!

[Ethel]

It makes perfect sense to reverse in, drive out.

You can see where you are going much better - especially when a very large car or van parks next to you; your car uses more fuel from start, so no tricky manoeuvres saves fuel - it uses 25% more fuel to reverse when the engine is cold.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/FEA TURES/ADVICE/OTHER/money_saving_tip_of_the_day _reverse_park.html

But mostly I do it for the safety aspect - don't forget pushchairs are pushed in front of the pusher and are low down, for example. I hate reversing out of spaces knowing that traffic is moving and people are walking about.

[kira000]

I'm with you on this Ethel.
I almost always reverse into spaces these days. In fact i find it harder to get into a space straight when driving in than i do reversing.
I hate not being able to see whats coming properly when reversing out. SOOOOO much easier coming out nose first!

[kira000]

Hairless..

As the reversing car, it is your resposibility to ensure the way is clear at all times during the manouvre.

However, it is normally accepted that if a car is already moving out of the space- say half in, that any car wanting to proceed past, should stop and wait, and that it would be reasonable of you to expect them to have stopped when they saw you.. But you should also have stopped when you saw them.

Depending on how far you were out of the space- ie, where they already behind you when you reversed out, or were you already reversing out and they went past, you may get the insurance claim to be a partial fault rather than a full liabilty.

[Fish the Mod]

Even when turning around using a side road. Always reverse in ( like you do in the test) and face forward. Never reverse out arse first or blind as we call it.

steve Bus driver