Your Ways of Dealing with Rude Drivers in Parking Lots

No, this is not another of these 'who's fault is it, please say not mine' topics ;)

I had a nasty adventure today, while on a parking lot next to a small shopping centre in NSW. When driving into that open air parking lot, you have to follow the road (parking spots available left and right on it), do a loop and then you exit right next to the entry, where you can decide to either give it another go, or leave the way you came from. See my awesome Paint skills below.

Lame sketch

Long story short, I drove on the parking lot today, and saw an empty spot in white spot. Drove past it slightly and started reversing slowly, only to see another car race into that spot from the end of the loop road, violating the give way road marks. Took me good 5 seconds after emergency breaking to comprehend what happened, and due to other cars waiting to leave the loop I decided to drive further and look for another spot.
The driver of that car did not leave their vehicle until I drove away - dunno if on purpose or due to being preoccupied with something in the car.

For a good 5 minutes after that happened I really felt like approaching that driver when he came back just to give him a piece of my mind about stunts like that, but I just figured it might lead to unnecessary argument on a public parking lot, so I let it go and just drove off after I was done with my shopping.

What's in my head right now, is a glaring question: how do other drivers in Oz deal with situations like that? No collision, no damages either way, yet anyone in my position could feel at least slightly irritated over being treated like that by another driver. Moreover, no reaction from one party encourages the other party to try that again some other time.

Discuss.

Poll Options expired

  • 23
    Unleash hell, let your hate run through you ;)
  • 1
    Engage in an argument to teach them a lesson
  • 138
    Let it go, idiots are everywhere

Comments

    • -2

      If they were already indicating why did you steal the park? You're an (profanity) who got what you deserved.

      • +1

        You cannot claim a park on the opposite side of the road that requires a u turn in a busy parking zone. Indicating is for car parks when you are approaching a car park or approaching a leaving car. I saw this for the first time in my life the other day and thought these people were morons and I would have happily fought them for the park.

      • @ssquid Do you seriously think a car driving in the direction opposite to the side of the street they want to park on has a right to reserve that spot?? And by indicate I mean point at the spot and then themselves.

  • +3

    Unless you indicated first and planned on reverse parking, you are in the wrong. Once you've passed its fair game. You gotta queue up for parking, no going back and claiming spots. Especially in a one way parking lot.

  • +6

    In the Sunnybank market square shopping centre, I was in the carpark and a girl walking beside me started running towards an empty car space about 5m ahead. I was already going faster than her cos I was in my sh_tbox, but I pumped the gas a tiny bit and got to turn into the carpark before she could stand in it and reserve it for her friend. It was glorious!

    • +2

      What a bitch.

    • wish you have a dash cam that would be exciting to watch.

      • +1

        The best part was her face full of disappointment after we pulled into the park.

        • Pinpointing the exact moment when her heart broke … priceless!

    • You are a legend. People who do this are the worst, I force them out lol.

      • aw shucks.

    • Sunnybank? This reminds me about the famous youtube girl stand at a parking lot to reserve for her car very far away, this happened in US couple of years ago.

  • Let it go, not worth it. Know a guy who got his car scratched for arguing about parking slot.

  • I let my keys do the talking.

  • Do as princess elsa would do.

    No point getting worked up about silly things like this, people are asholes, just the way the world is.

    • So i freeze the whole town? Anger - let it go, let it go, break that d&$#heads nose! :)

  • No one wants to argue, so ill vote that 😂😂😂

  • -4

    People are sick of selfish #@'s blocking the road wasting their time waiting for people who don't know how to reverse try to get in !

    OP would have got the park if drove straight in with out reversing .

    End of story .

    • +1

      Other people are sick of selfish #@‘s thinking they are more important than everyone else and who can’t cope with a few seconds of delay in the most important motoring journey.

      Note: if you have to wait for them to reverse to get in they will be quicker out, when you’d have to wait for others to reverse out if they drove in.

      • +1

        Yeah but profar is only concerned about his wait time at that moment…He doesn't care they'll be able to get out easier. That only benefits other people! ;)

        • And there we have a significant problem in our current society. To much ‘ME’

    • -1

      It's not selfish to be bad at parking.
      It is very selfish to cut others off because you can't handle waiting a few seconds for someone else to park.

  • +3

    if someone steals my park which is rare because i always park away from people to avoid it, i put up their wipers & fold in their mirrors just to waste their time like they did with my time.

  • +4

    Unless you were indicating as you drove past the spot in an attempt to show that you intended to reverse park(which by the way you worded it you were not) I would argue you had no claim to the spot and reversing back down a one way car park is going to put you in the wrong.

    If you are planning on reverse parking you should indicate before you reach the parking spot, I would then generally turn away from the parking spot so I am able to swing in with ease and without having to fully pass the spot to avoid someone trying to sneak in behind.

    • +2

      Exactly, the diagram as drawn doesn't match the story.

      You don't reverse into a park from that position, you turn outward first and so will be starting the reverse from already a ~45 deg angle.

  • +1

    I have seen this before - https://imgur.com/H1FLhjE

  • +2

    The diagram as drawn doesn't match the story.

    You don't reverse into a park from that position, you turn outward first and then you reverse in. So when the reversing part starts you are already at a ~45 deg angle.

    The diagram looks like someone who had already driven past the park and decided to try and reverse back up the lane to get the spot.

    (I'm not saying that this isn't a legitimate move, but you don't have any 'claim' on a spot behind you so you have to move quick.)

  • I learned to drive defensively and there’s no way any prick CAN do that to me these days and if they can, then hats off to them, they deserve the spot. Oh and dash cam absolutely no excuse not to have one to protect yourself these days.

    • How do you prevent it?

  • +1

    The guy that drives off and lets it go, because he gets the last move and knows where the first guy parked. So even if you win and get the spot do you really want to park there and go to the shops while somebody could be having a super techno dance party on your roof? and same goes for roles reversed if you want to take it that far

  • On a positive note, OP can draw parking lots like them French babes. Let it go OP. You did the right thing <3

  • +1

    Just let it go.

    When I was younger about ten years ago me and another driver blocked off one lane each of Russell st in the Melbourne cbd on a Friday night each with half of our cars parked in the middle strip parking no letting go of the car parking spot. Both fueled on hormones despite all the beeping from the other drivers and the security guards from the night clubs around. Eventually cops came and just told us both to reverse out and go away. On hindsight yeah don’t fight over parking, not worth it. Pretty amazed cop didn’t fine us but could see we were both adamant with our girlfriends in the car not to add fuel to the fire as they were yelling at each other too.

  • +3

    Usually just let it go, then I'll stare at them till it gets uncomfortable and yell out "I'll see you inside". Most people when you confront them will shy away (something about feel protected inside a car) unless they're crazy. You don't confront crazy.

    Exception is when you go Chadstone, you'll need to engage battle mode the minute you enter the carpark

    • Had the brains during end of year stocktake sales to park 800 m down the road at Chadstone and it was like peak hr traffic down every row :)

      Dummy dumb anyone who engages in the battle at those times !

    • Lol youd get bashed by like 60% of my town for saying that… Haha yeh youll see them inside alright…

  • Welcome to the pre-Christmas shopping and carpark madness!!! It'll only get worse from here until the 24th Dec…..

  • I think you were too slow, George.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov7HFwrRFyc

  • It could have been worse….

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBK8_7uavhg

    • Id have got out got in the bitches face till she got the (profanity) out my spot 😂

  • +1

    But theres no option 4 to key their car when they walk away?

  • +1

    First time mum with screaming newborn in car on a scorching hot day when we waited several minutes with the indicator on, for an old couple to pack their car and return the trolley. As they reversed out a car quickly came from the opposite direction and took the park. I told the carpark thief we had been waiting with the indicator on for ages and had a screaming baby in the car. He said he didn’t care and couldn’t see our name anywhere on the park.

    In a moment of postpartum hormonal and sleep deprived rage, I found an old bottle of sunscreen in the glovebox and proceeded to write A**HOLE across his entire windscreen. I was very careful not to get any on the paint. Would I do it again, definitely not. Although I do hope it was a community service and the carpark thieving douche stole his last carpark that day.

    • +1

      Nice work.

      Reminds me, as a very tired dad with a cranky kid in tow and a trolley full of shopping to load into the car I slammed my door open onto a car that was so close I couldn’t get my child into his seat except from the other side of the car. There were plenty of other places in the car park and this took had parked so close I could barely walk down the side. Felt good at the time, but I regret damaging the other car. Wasn’t worried about the minor damage to my already knocked around car.

  • _You often cannot change people's attitudes towards you, but you can change your attitude towards them. Let yourself be the controller of your feelings not some random stranger. Just smile and walk away.

  • one finger salute

  • +5

    Carry a pen and paper in the car.
    Write a note that says:

    "Sorry, I hit your car :( Fortunately the damage doesn't look too bad. I'm just leaving this note anonymously so witnesses will think I'm leaving my details."

    They will walk around the entire car looking for any new nick or scratch and wondering who the heck hit them and where the damage is.

  • Wait for them to exit, then put your car in neutral, and redline loudly to shock and hurt their ears. Or do the same thing with an unexpected horn.

  • Dupe.

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