To JB and Tony: I respect you both , but read JB's post- "How did you not see a car behind you?", and the main point of my reply.

If either of you, or any other driver on this earth, can "use you mirrors and your eyes" to see a vehicle coming from your left side as you back out SLOWLY, with a van, SUV or pickup truck on the left flank of your car, your eyes are more capable than mine in seeing thru solid objects.

I'm not talking about backing into something directly behind you. That takes a simple mind to do. An inattentive idiot driver.

I'm talking about backing out into a lane of the parking lot, with traffic coming from your left, with a vision-blocking vehicle parked on your left side. Your rear and side view mirrors are useless; period. Your eyes looking left are your only 'tools', and they are useless until you have backed up with six to seven feet of the *** of your car sticking out into the lane of traffic coming from the left.

The fault of any impact in a parking lot is probably attributable to the car driving down the lane, but the person backing out will take the blame; they ‘backed into’ the other party.

Oh, I did not say anything about backing out “too quickly”. This stuff happens at creep speed (of the backer) and 5 – 10 MPH of the party who actually gets “hit”.

Again, if either of you can back out of a parking spot with a van/SUV on your left side and actually see ANYTHING coming from your left side before you have seven feet or more of your car stuck out into traffic, come and prove that to me. I’ll treat you and your bride to dinner.

 

I can. Jack, think about it, can you see the back of your car, of course you can, your car doesn't bend, doesn't matter what is beside you. You just have to creep out and if you do get hit, it is you who got hit, because the other guy was going too fast for the conditions. If you hit something that is parked or driving by, it isn't because you can't see him, it is because of inattention, carelessness or distraction. Braised short rib please, wife likes chicken and maybe a nice bottle of Malbec. I will get the tip!

 

OK amigo.

 

.....and turn down the wind when I come, been there 4 times and everytime guess what, it was *&^%$ windy!!

 

It may be different in Canada but if you are backing out and hit or get hit, you are at fault. It doesnt matter if the other person wasnt paying attention or was driving too fast for the conditions. I got hit backing out by a kid doing almost 30 in a parking lot and I got the penalty. I hate your avatars by the way Racer - I keep trying to read what you you wrote but my eyes keep drifting to the left!

 

What about a back up camera ?

 

Actually, I believe in parking lots it is 50/50 fault up here (unless the other car is parked), don't know, never backed into anybody and I am always watching for the "keyplrs" backing out.

 

OK my friend.

 

I just got a new Taurus company car and noticed a back-up alarm on the order from our fleet people. I called thinking this $345 dealer installed option was a mistake. It wasn't, its a company standard. Its basically two small sensors installed in the rear bumper and a wireless LED/beeper thats mounted inside in the rear window (beeps/led goes on when you get close, stronger sound when real close). A first I thought how stupid. But after three months of having it, this thing is very cool and it works extremely well.

 

Ask me about backing up collisions sometime.

Like when I pulled into the apple orchard parking lot
sent the kids inside for apples - I was in a jacked up GMC SUV.
Poor victim pulled in cross ways behind me in a new Maxima S
with 42 miles on a Sunday afternoon outing. BIG MISTAKE. Kids came back -
I checked all mirrors - nothing there - backed it up - poor guy was in
the drivers seat screaming while I punched his driver door in -Yikes!
Apples cost $692.

 

How do you like them apples.....

 

Backup camera would be great. Truth is, most times when backing a Corvette out of a parking space you can't see if traffic is coming. You can creep out and hope nobody is coming, but you can not see. Like someone else said, I usually try to park way out, by myself.

 

I said I had looked, there was no car behind me, then I put the car in gear and started to back out - hitting a car that was now there. He obviously drove up very quickly. It also didn't help that it was a white rental Prius and very dirty at dusk with low visibility. I'm also of the belief that I was already engaged in backing out when he pulled up, so not much time to "see" anything.

Wrong.

48 years of driving with no tickets, no accidents. I think the odds are on my side.

 

You are lucky! Go buy a Lotto ticket!