Secret Service agent reveals: The reason you must park in reverse
It's not just to get out of the spot faster: a retired Secret Service agent revealed his method for safe parking, and explains how this simple action will save you unnecessary risk, time, and headaches: "You never know" • Watch
Almost all of us do it daily: we arrive at a narrow parking lot near the supermarket or at work, find an empty spot, and pull in front-first, whether to save time or simply because we don't like parking in reverse. A former agent of the US Secret Service warns that this is a wrong and even dangerous habit, and recommends that all drivers adopt the working method of security forces — and always park in reverse.
The rule — remember the emergency scenario
Scott Bryson, who previously served in the US Secret Service, shared in his Instagram video the reasoning behind the unwritten rule of security and police personnel. According to him, while most drivers are in a hurry to park and do not think about the consequences of leaving the spot, professionals always consider the emergency scenario.
"Police officers and security personnel always park in reverse for emergency reasons. When an urgent call comes in, it is much easier and faster to pull out forward than to start maneuvering in reverse and risk hitting an object. This is just as true for your personal life: you may not be in a hurry when you enter a store or home, but you never know when you will need to leave the place in an emergency and quickly." — Bryson explained.
Beyond readiness for extreme scenarios, Bryson notes another practical reason: sudden technical malfunctions. In the case of a dead battery or an engine failure requiring assistance from another vehicle, accessibility to the front of the car when it is facing outward significantly facilitates connection and service provision.
91% of accidents in parking lots in the USA: due to reversing
The Secret Service agent's recommendation is also supported by dry data from road safety organizations. According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), about 29% of all traffic accidents occur in parking lots. Worse yet — about 91% of these accidents occur while reversing.
In addition, data from the National Safety Council (NSC) in the USA indicates that about 9% of pedestrian deaths in parking lots are caused by being hit by a vehicle moving in reverse.
The reason for this is simple: when exiting a parking spot moving forward, the driver has a much wider, direct, and clearer field of vision of what is happening in the area, compared to exiting in reverse where the blind spot is significantly larger. Of course, in the case of reversing, one should not rely only on the vehicle's camera, but it is mandatory to use mirrors and, if necessary, look over the shoulder.
Finally, Bryson gives another security tip for choosing the exact parking spot: "I always try to park next to an island or a perimeter sidewalk." The additional peripheral distance created between the vehicle and other cars, he explains, provides a wider field of vision to identify potential risks in the parking lot in advance.
