Which direction to park car?

[BedokAmerican]

I've noticed everyone seems to back their vehicles in to parking spaces.

I understand it's easier to get out of the space when leaving, but it can be very difficult to park that way if another vehicle is behind you or if you're in a hurry to get somewhere.

Is there a law, written or unwritten, that says people must back their vehicles into parking spaces at car parks as opposed to parking nose-in?

I don't recall seeing any signs about this and couldn't find any info on this topic.

Thanks.

[the lynx]

I've noticed everyone seems to back their vehicles in to parking spaces.

I understand it's easier to get out of the space when leaving, but it can be very difficult to park that way if another vehicle is behind you or if you're in a hurry to get somewhere.

Is there a law, written or unwritten, that says people must back their vehicles into parking spaces at car parks as opposed to parking nose-in?

I don't recall seeing any signs about this and couldn't find any info on this topic.

Thanks.

There is no such rule. It is just a common practice by the locals.

Don't worry if you wanna park nose-in. Just go ahead. To be honest, I did both when I used to drive around here, depending on the situation.

[PNGMK]

Some car parks belonging to safety conscious organisations will mandate reverse parking (so when the poorly maintained refinery explodes on Jurong Island you can rush off quickly). Otherwise than that you're free to do as you want. I have found though that with the tighter spaces here it is easier to back in.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Doesn't make much difference to me. I spent 20 years backing an 18' Glastron around on a short single axle trailer so backing up here is a piece of cake although I gotta laugh at how many times they have to pull out & back in again and again about 3 times before they get it right. Although I do enjoy grabbing parking spaces when somebody is four cars past a space and then the owner of the parked car comes out and the guy in front decided it's his and he's been waiting for it. Tough Sh*t, dude, if you were waiting for it, he would have been in front of you. Bout the only time I don't back in is when I at a supermarket and want to be able to load groceries in the boot/trunk from the shopping trolley.

[PNGMK]

Doesn't make much difference to me. I spent 20 years backing an 18' Glastron around on a short single axle trailer so backing up here is a piece of cake although I gotta laugh at how many times they have to pull out & back in again and again about 3 times before they get it right. Although I do enjoy grabbing parking spaces when somebody is four cars past a space and then the owner of the parked car comes out and the guy in front decided it's his and he's been waiting for it. Tough Sh*t, dude, if you were waiting for it, he would have been in front of you. Bout the only time I don't back in is when I at a supermarket and want to be able to load groceries in the boot/trunk from the shopping trolley.

There's actually a legal precedent here that supports this which was set 20 years ago or so. A former swimming champion (Grace Fu?) sued another condo resident for 'stealing her space' in exactly that matter and lost. The judge basically said first in gets it.

[x9200]

I park as it serves my needs which are my parking convenience, the convenience of accessing the trunk with the shopping trolley or both.

[katbh]

We call nose in parking 'expat parking'. So much fun nipping in and grabbing spots. You can be in the spot, out of the car and on your way before the other person notices that you have got in first!

[x9200]

Reverse parking this is the only thing the locals do right while driving. Sometimes I am truly impressed how securely and precisely they can park.

BTW, how do you do it? Relying on the mirrors/camera or by turning your body and looking back?

[sundaymorningstaple]

For me, it's using the mirrors but that because in the US I was licensed to drive a Prime Mover (14~22 wheels) and with a box trailer cannot look out the back window. But with the short axle trailer I'd look over my shoulder so as to get 'er done quickly as usually there were other also waiting at the boat ramp to launch or pull up their boats as well.

[therat]

In Singapore driving test, we are tested for 2 type of parking.

Parallel and reverse parking.

Both parking must pass.

[sundaymorningstaple]

It actually doesn't take too much skill to pull into parking slot. What I would like to watch is a Singaporean trying to reverse into a diagonal parking slot like a number of parking lots are designed for speed of entry/exit in the US.

[zzm9980]

In Singapore driving test, we are tested for 2 type of parking.

Parallel and reverse parking.

Both parking must pass.

Funny, since that's the only thing locals seem to be able to do decently in their car: park. Any other driving skill is sorely lacking.

And yeah, I'm (sort of) with SMS. I back in when it suits me, but often pull in first if it lets me ninja a parking spot. Mostly just for my own amusement to piss off someone else.

[QRM]

Depends where the building pillars are! I have to admit these days I tend to back in, only because theres a reverse camera built into to car and you can stop mm in front of the wall.

[ecureilx]

My 2 cents ? Most natives reverse park, because, when you are pulling out of the lot, too many morons are busy looking ahead they tend to ignore the fact another car maybe leaving.

Atleast, with your tail in, you see the coast is clear before driving out ..

Reverse parking this is the only thing the locals do right while driving. Sometimes I am truly impressed how securely and precisely they can park.

If you park on the line or cross, you get fined, so isn't that an incentive to fine tune the parking ?

BTW, how do you do it? Relying on the mirrors/camera or by turning your body and looking back?

I just use the Auto Park in the BMW (seriously, never done it .. though I would like to have a go and see how smart the auto park is ..

One of the most n nicest parking sensor / sonar I saw in any car I drove was in ML 320, a strip of lights showing which side was closer to any obstacle. Though if my memory serves right, the front fenders too did have a sensor so you can make tight turns.

i don't know if it was factory kit or add-on, as I was running it around for a month .. years ago.

[JR8]

And yeah, I'm (sort of) with SMS. I back in when it suits me, but often pull in first if it lets me ninja a parking spot. Mostly just for my own amusement to piss off someone else.

^+1