Driving: why Thai’s “back in”?

[HHTel]

Out of idle curiosity, I just did a Google image search of some UK housing and nearly every car is parked on the drive nose in so it's definitely not normal practice to reverse in.

Absolutely. Seems to be a different mentality parking on your own drive. I never reversed into my drive .... ever! Never entered my head. Your brain probably tells you "I'm not parking. I'm entering my own property!!"

[lindosfan1]

The highway code rule 201 gives guidance on reverse parking. It does state where you can.
how ever reversing out of a drive is impossible following the rule 202

Rule 201
Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.

Rule 202
Look carefully before you start reversing. You should use all your mirrors
check the ‘blind spot’ behind you (the part of the road you cannot see easily in the mirrors)
check there are no pedestrians (particularly children), cyclists, other road users or obstructions in the road behind you.
Reverse slowly while checking all around,looking mainly through the rear window
being aware that the front of your vehicle will swing out as you turn.
Get someone to guide you if you cannot see clearly.

Reversing out of a drive mirrors are useless, looking mainly through the rear mirror does not see people or traffic coning from left or right side.

[Nereus]

At my house in Hua Hin I aways reversed into the car port. These people can't see a frigging train coming while driving, so they are unlikely to notice a car!

[handdrummer]

A more pertinent question might be; why do Thais drive in reverse down a street, into oncoming cross traffic, rather than make a 3 point turn and proceed to the corner? Don't they teach 3 point turns in Thailand?

[GroveHillWanderer]

Not sure about other countries but in the UK it is illegal to reverse onto a road.

Only from a side road into a main road - not from your own driveway, at least according to the extracts from the Highway Code that have been quoted.

Rule 201 [...] When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.

Rule 202
Look carefully before you start reversing

This makes it clear that you can reverse onto a road from a driveway - it just isn't recommended.

[lindosfan1]

Not sure about other countries but in the UK it is illegal to reverse onto a road.

Only from a side road into a main road - not from your own driveway, at least according to the extracts from the Highway Code that have been quoted.

Rule 201 [...] When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.

Rule 202
Look carefully before you start reversing

This makes it clear that you can reverse onto a road from a driveway - it just isn't recommended.

Read it properly if you reverse out most of the time you cannot see clearly, as stated in me previous post if you reverse out with bad vision and a car hits you, you will be prosecuted. Hi lighting part of the guidance is not clever.

[HHTel]

Part of the problem here is that quoting from the Highway Code is fine but it isn't a legal document. Some of the rules are in fact law but many are not.

[lindosfan1]

Part of the problem here is that quoting from the Highway Code is fine but it isn't a legal document. Some of the rules are in fact law but many are not.

Interesting, being the driving test is based on the highway code, could you advise which ones are not law?

[STEVE G]

Part of the problem here is that quoting from the Highway Code is fine but it isn't a legal document. Some of the rules are in fact law but many are not.

Interesting, being the driving test is based on the highway code, could you advise which ones are not law?

The Highway Code is not something I've read since the 1980s but I've had a look and if you read the introduction, it points out that the parts that are legal requirements use the words must/must not in bold text.
It does also point out that the other parts can be used against you in court to establish liability but are not illegal and use the advisory wording such as, should/should not or do/do not.

[handdrummer]

It does also point out that the other parts can be used against you in court to establish liability but are not illegal and use the advisory wording such as, should/should not or do/do not.
Top

Typical Thai twaddle and fence sitting.

[Dannie Boy]

Slightly going off subject, but that’s probably why more and more people are using dash cams, so that they can’t be blamed when innocent.

[HHTel]

It does also point out that the other parts can be used against you in court to establish liability but are not illegal and use the advisory wording such as, should/should not or do/do not.
Top

Typical Thai twaddle and fence sitting.

What has the UK Highway Code to do with 'Thai twaddle'?

[STEVE G]

It does also point out that the other parts can be used against you in court to establish liability but are not illegal and use the advisory wording such as, should/should not or do/do not.
Top

Typical Thai twaddle and fence sitting.

What has the UK Highway Code to do with 'Thai twaddle'?

Same same!

[VincentD]

As your typical vehicle is articulated in the front and had no blind spots there either, it makes a lot of sense to position the non-articulated end of the vehicle towards the rear (dead-end) of the parking spot. It is also human nature to 'keep your back to the wall' especially in crowded situations like in a train so you are in a better position to take an action when you see a situation. The fact that we don't have eyes in the back of our heads is also another possible hindrance.
In keeping with the topic of why Thais do it, well in a typical shopping center carpark you have a central lane with parking on either side, you want to have better articulation coming out to where even a tenth of a degree counts, especially if there is another lane of cars parked in front of you and you'll have to push them out of the way. Pray you don't have to deal with the numpty who has actually engaged his handbrake.
Swampypoom parking is a good example of why this is your typical parking preference in Thailand. My two baht worth.

[HHTel]

I have a Pajero and parking in neutral is impossible. The ignition key is locked in on anything else other than 'P'ark.