http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723 So there have been a few blogs about the driving habits of many about town, but this is a blog about parking lot etiquette. I don't remember ever learning about the proper way to drive in a parking lot, but it has always seemed common sense worked well enough. Apparently, this doesn't work for everyone. That or they just don't care. Over the last month I have almost been in about 5 accidents in parking lots. Thank God I'm a defensive driver! Maybe it's just me...rules that I've applied just to myself all these years. So I'll ask you what you do? SaveMart parking lot has been the worst for me with this &quot;rule&quot;.&nbsp;1.) So If pulling out onto one of the two main strips through the parking lot do you yield to those coming into the parking lot? I always have.&nbsp;Also for example, If pulling out of the gas station portion of Albertson's do you yield for those driving through to get back on to Tucker.?&nbsp;Three times in the last month I've had to slam on my brakes while someone flies out of an aisle without even braking for me.&nbsp;2.) If pulling out do you&nbsp;yield for those driving down the aisle? I know this usually depends on if the person has actually pulled out of the parking space, etc., but if someone is already half way pulled out do you stop??&nbsp;&nbsp;I do. Well I guess the person that nearly slammed into me didn't know this rule. Near accident #4. Then last night took the cake!&nbsp; I was in the Albertson's parking lot. Pulled in through the main strip off of Tucker. Stopped to check for pedestrians before turning left to head to McDonald's. Well while I was doing this a car came flying up behind me and&nbsp;without stopping and passed me on the left. I was livid! If I hadn't of paused I would have been side swiped by this person. They also proceeded to go to MD and parked in the parking lot. I tell you it took everything in me not to get out and chew this person out.&nbsp; I can't say I wasn't surprised when some teeny bopper got out of the car talking on her cell phone. Grr....I'm still irritated.&nbsp; Anyway, I'll end my rant, but I ask you, Do you remember any rules pertaining to parking lots? Do you follow any specific rules when driving in parking lots or am I alone on this? Somehow I don't think I am although I'm beginning to have my doubts. So there have been a few blogs about the driving habits of many about town, but this is a blog about parking lot etiquette. I don't remember ever learning about the proper way to drive in a parking lot, but it has always seemed common sense worked well enough. Apparently, this doesn't work for everyone. That or they just don't care. Over the last month I have almost been in about 5 accidents in parking lots. Thank God I'm a defensive driver! Maybe it's just me...rules that I've applied just to myself all these years. So I'll ask you what you do? SaveMart parking lot has been the worst for me with this &quot;rule&quot;.&nbsp;1.) So If pulling out onto one of the two main strips through the parking lot do you yield to those coming into the parking lot? I always have.&nbsp;Also for example, If pulling out of the gas station portion of Albertson's do you yield for those driving through to get back on to Tucker.?&nbsp;Three times in the last month I've had to slam on my brakes while someone flies out of an aisle without even braking for me.&nbsp;2.) If pulling out do you&nbsp;yield for those driving down the aisle? I know this usually depends on if the person has actually pulled out of the parking space, etc., but if someone is already half way pulled out do you stop??&nbsp;&nbsp;I do. Well I guess the person that nearly slammed into me didn't know this rule. Near accident #4. Then last night took the cake!&nbsp; I was in the Albertson's parking lot. Pulled in through the main strip off of Tucker. Stopped to check for pedestrians before turning left to head to McDonald's. Well while I was doing this a car came flying up behind me and&nbsp;without stopping and passed me on the left. I was livid! If I hadn't of paused I would have been side swiped by this person. They also proceeded to go to MD and parked in the parking lot. I tell you it took everything in me not to get out and chew this person out.&nbsp; I can't say I wasn't surprised when some teeny bopper got out of the car talking on her cell phone. Grr....I'm still irritated.&nbsp; Anyway, I'll end my rant, but I ask you, Do you remember any rules pertaining to parking lots? Do you follow any specific rules when driving in parking lots or am I alone on this? Somehow I don't think I am although I'm beginning to have my doubts. en-us I think you're exactly right- those are definitely rules to follow.&nbsp; I have always figured that if I just slow down, practice a little courtesy, and assume that everyone else is an idiot, then I'd have no problems in a parking lot.&nbsp; I always try to yield to the &quot;through lanes&quot;, but sometimes parking lots are so poorly designed that it's difficult to tell where the through lanes are.&nbsp; I know there's a legal point at which someone has to yield to a person backing out of a spot- I just don't know where that is.&nbsp; I just slow down when I see reverse lights on.<br /> <br /> My one reported accident was in a parking lot at college, but that was just where some chick just threw it into reverse and backed up onto my car.&nbsp; She wasn't even pulling out of a parking space; she had passed an open spot and was backing up to go into it. (Ha, still a little bitter!&nbsp; She threatened to charge <em>me</em> with hit and run because I didn't know I had to report it to campus police.) http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182768 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182768 I think you're exactly right- those are definitely rules to follow.&nbsp; I have always figured that if I just slow down, practice a little courtesy, and assume that everyone else is an idiot, then I'd have no problems in a parking lot.&nbsp; I always try to yield to the &quot;through lanes&quot;, but sometimes parking lots are so poorly designed that it's difficult to tell where the through lanes are.&nbsp; I know there's a legal point at which someone has to yield to a person backing out of a spot- I just don't know where that is.&nbsp; I just slow down when I see reverse lights on.<br /> <br /> My one reported accident was in a parking lot at college, but that was just where some chick just threw it into reverse and backed up onto my car.&nbsp; She wasn't even pulling out of a parking space; she had passed an open spot and was backing up to go into it. (Ha, still a little bitter!&nbsp; She threatened to charge <em>me</em> with hit and run because I didn't know I had to report it to campus police.) My personal rules of thumb:<br /> Park far away or on the far sides.<br /> Always give right of way because whats the extra second in your life?<br /> Crane your neck back &amp; forth to see whos incoming while your backing out. I can't do it as well now that I am older. Plus I am short.<br /> Thats it for me. I also hate Savemart Parking lot. I avoid it and go to Albertsons just for that reason. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182770 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182770 My personal rules of thumb:<br /> Park far away or on the far sides.<br /> Always give right of way because whats the extra second in your life?<br /> Crane your neck back &amp; forth to see whos incoming while your backing out. I can't do it as well now that I am older. Plus I am short.<br /> Thats it for me. I also hate Savemart Parking lot. I avoid it and go to Albertsons just for that reason. Attitude of today's drivers - Hurray for me, to hell with you. (Actually, probably extends to people's attitudes in general). http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182771 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182771 Attitude of today's drivers - Hurray for me, to hell with you. (Actually, probably extends to people's attitudes in general). <font size="3">I don't know which&nbsp;lot my SIL was parked&nbsp;in but a woman backed into&nbsp;her car. Damage wasn't too bad and as she and the woman who hit her surveyed area that was hit, my SIL commented that it was a brand new car - to which the woman said, &quot;well, anyone stupid enough to buy a new car and park it in a lot deserves what they get.&quot; Now, my SIL is a turn the other cheek kinda gal, and she had been ready to just let the woman roll. <strong>lol,</strong> that rude bitch got what SHE deserved. My SIL took her insurance info.The amount for repair&nbsp;was $1200.00. Maybe next time the twit will keep her rude mouth shut. I think she was angry because she was going &quot;hit and run&quot; but a witness stopped her. Plus, my SIL's granddaughter was in the car which the woman hadn't noticed. I love it when Karma smacks someone down.</font> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182844 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182844 <font size="3">I don't know which&nbsp;lot my SIL was parked&nbsp;in but a woman backed into&nbsp;her car. Damage wasn't too bad and as she and the woman who hit her surveyed area that was hit, my SIL commented that it was a brand new car - to which the woman said, &quot;well, anyone stupid enough to buy a new car and park it in a lot deserves what they get.&quot; Now, my SIL is a turn the other cheek kinda gal, and she had been ready to just let the woman roll. <strong>lol,</strong> that rude bitch got what SHE deserved. My SIL took her insurance info.The amount for repair&nbsp;was $1200.00. Maybe next time the twit will keep her rude mouth shut. I think she was angry because she was going &quot;hit and run&quot; but a witness stopped her. Plus, my SIL's granddaughter was in the car which the woman hadn't noticed. I love it when Karma smacks someone down.</font> I agree with madkow: practice courtesy and assume everyone else on the road is an idiot.&nbsp; I will add &quot;try not to BE one of the idiots,&quot; because I know I'm sure as heck not perfect.<br /> <br /> Joty, I know your story wasn't about you, and I'm not ranting at you or anything.&nbsp; But I have to say the following:<br /> <br /> Always, always, always go through the proper steps when an accident occurs.&nbsp; If you don't just because you think it's no biggie, you could be in big trouble.&nbsp; The human body is strange in reaction to even the slightest trauma sometimes and you may realize 2 days later that you can't move you neck or feel your left leg.&nbsp; Seriously.&nbsp; Or, the other person who begged you to let them slide might just call their lawyer cousin and sue you for imagined damages with their boyfriend that was in the passenger seat as a &quot;witness&quot;.<br /> <br /> Unfortunately, you have to be prepared for anything in this world, fair or not.&nbsp; I'm all about loving everyone equally, but that doesn't mean you don't look out for yourself, too.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> T*ake info.<br /> *Call the police.<br /> *Ask witnesses to stay.<br /> *Stay calm.&nbsp; Yelling doesn't help anyone, it makes you look like a jerk (especially if you're the only one doing it), and you never know what the other person might do in retaliation.<br /> *If you don't have a camera in your car (cheapy disposables are good), have someone bring one to you and don't let anyone leave without recording the damage and the scene.&nbsp; Even if the police don't find fault, these photos could help the insurance company to do so.<br /> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182923 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182923 I agree with madkow: practice courtesy and assume everyone else on the road is an idiot.&nbsp; I will add &quot;try not to BE one of the idiots,&quot; because I know I'm sure as heck not perfect.<br /> <br /> Joty, I know your story wasn't about you, and I'm not ranting at you or anything.&nbsp; But I have to say the following:<br /> <br /> Always, always, always go through the proper steps when an accident occurs.&nbsp; If you don't just because you think it's no biggie, you could be in big trouble.&nbsp; The human body is strange in reaction to even the slightest trauma sometimes and you may realize 2 days later that you can't move you neck or feel your left leg.&nbsp; Seriously.&nbsp; Or, the other person who begged you to let them slide might just call their lawyer cousin and sue you for imagined damages with their boyfriend that was in the passenger seat as a &quot;witness&quot;.<br /> <br /> Unfortunately, you have to be prepared for anything in this world, fair or not.&nbsp; I'm all about loving everyone equally, but that doesn't mean you don't look out for yourself, too.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> T*ake info.<br /> *Call the police.<br /> *Ask witnesses to stay.<br /> *Stay calm.&nbsp; Yelling doesn't help anyone, it makes you look like a jerk (especially if you're the only one doing it), and you never know what the other person might do in retaliation.<br /> *If you don't have a camera in your car (cheapy disposables are good), have someone bring one to you and don't let anyone leave without recording the damage and the scene.&nbsp; Even if the police don't find fault, these photos could help the insurance company to do so.<br /> <p><font size="3">I agree wholeheartedly Christi. I told my SIL she did the right thing even though it took the other woman - who was responsible for the accident - being rude to make my SIL act. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I forgot to ask her though if the woman was a T'pi resident...none of us could've been that rude...LOL!!!!!</font></p> <p><font size="3">I always have either my phone which has a camera, or a disposable with me just for that reason.</font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182984 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_182984 <p><font size="3">I agree wholeheartedly Christi. I told my SIL she did the right thing even though it took the other woman - who was responsible for the accident - being rude to make my SIL act. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I forgot to ask her though if the woman was a T'pi resident...none of us could've been that rude...LOL!!!!!</font></p> <p><font size="3">I always have either my phone which has a camera, or a disposable with me just for that reason.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="3">Thank you all for making my&nbsp;parking lot&nbsp;experiences seem normal.&nbsp; But, honestly, I'm thinking Tehachapi could make some extra revenue just by patrolling these lots and giving tickets to those not driving by the California Traffic Department rules.&nbsp; We may be talking a small fortune here.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="3">Most traffic rules are based on&nbsp;countrygirl's common sense rules.&nbsp; Just be polite and a little caution helps too.&nbsp; I kinda drive thinking - if I had my granddaughter in the car, what would I do?&nbsp; It is a marvelous method for keeping you from moving your vehicle around&nbsp; (which could be considered a weapon under the right circumstances) with a good amount of respect.</font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_183690 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_183690 <p><font face="Verdana" size="3">Thank you all for making my&nbsp;parking lot&nbsp;experiences seem normal.&nbsp; But, honestly, I'm thinking Tehachapi could make some extra revenue just by patrolling these lots and giving tickets to those not driving by the California Traffic Department rules.&nbsp; We may be talking a small fortune here.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana" size="3">Most traffic rules are based on&nbsp;countrygirl's common sense rules.&nbsp; Just be polite and a little caution helps too.&nbsp; I kinda drive thinking - if I had my granddaughter in the car, what would I do?&nbsp; It is a marvelous method for keeping you from moving your vehicle around&nbsp; (which could be considered a weapon under the right circumstances) with a good amount of respect.</font></p> <p>So true, Save Mart's parking lot is A joke, or is it the drivers, what a nightmare! You need a valume just to tackle it. Really, the only answer, is patience. What about when your coming back from the river, like on the 40, or going through Barstow, &amp; everybody that was waving @ you on the H2O,&nbsp; is cussing &amp; yelling, blah blah about the traffic. We wouldn't be pulling a boat so no one would recognize us. Here's all their fancy, bright boats, that were so sweet on the H2O, but their true self sure would come out in reality.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_266982 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_266982 <p>So true, Save Mart's parking lot is A joke, or is it the drivers, what a nightmare! You need a valume just to tackle it. Really, the only answer, is patience. What about when your coming back from the river, like on the 40, or going through Barstow, &amp; everybody that was waving @ you on the H2O,&nbsp; is cussing &amp; yelling, blah blah about the traffic. We wouldn't be pulling a boat so no one would recognize us. Here's all their fancy, bright boats, that were so sweet on the H2O, but their true self sure would come out in reality.</p> <p>For Save Mart, nobody parks in the lanes immediately to the right of the main entrance&nbsp;directly in front of the store.&nbsp; Enter there, turn immediately right, get a great spot&nbsp;and don't add to the&nbsp;congestion&nbsp;of the through lane.</p> <p>As for etiquitte backing out from the spots in front of the store, that lane is often too congested for the departing person to always defer to the &quot;thru&quot; traffic.&nbsp;&nbsp; During those occasions,&nbsp;those backing out and going through&nbsp;need to alternate with each other.&nbsp;</p> <p>Efficient use of those&nbsp;against-the-curb spots are of high value&nbsp;to keep the traffic moving through that lane, so it doesn't help to sit there, monopolize the best space and wait for a gap in traffic that isn't going to come.&nbsp; The person you slightly delay&nbsp;would&nbsp;probably prefer to take the spot you leave anyway.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267137 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267137 <p>For Save Mart, nobody parks in the lanes immediately to the right of the main entrance&nbsp;directly in front of the store.&nbsp; Enter there, turn immediately right, get a great spot&nbsp;and don't add to the&nbsp;congestion&nbsp;of the through lane.</p> <p>As for etiquitte backing out from the spots in front of the store, that lane is often too congested for the departing person to always defer to the &quot;thru&quot; traffic.&nbsp;&nbsp; During those occasions,&nbsp;those backing out and going through&nbsp;need to alternate with each other.&nbsp;</p> <p>Efficient use of those&nbsp;against-the-curb spots are of high value&nbsp;to keep the traffic moving through that lane, so it doesn't help to sit there, monopolize the best space and wait for a gap in traffic that isn't going to come.&nbsp; The person you slightly delay&nbsp;would&nbsp;probably prefer to take the spot you leave anyway.</p> <p>You guys whine about every thing.................</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267148 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267148 <p>You guys whine about every thing.................</p> <p>Heck, when I was driving my Abrams M1, I could park anywhere I wanted. And if there were any object in my path, I just drove over it. Who needs parking lots anyway? LOL</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267159 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267159 <p>Heck, when I was driving my Abrams M1, I could park anywhere I wanted. And if there were any object in my path, I just drove over it. Who needs parking lots anyway? LOL</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium; ">Nice!!!</span></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267161 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267161 <p><span style="font-size: medium; ">Nice!!!</span></p> <p>Job was this you?</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coG3WUq8_mQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coG3WUq8_mQ</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267164 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267164 <p>Job was this you?</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coG3WUq8_mQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coG3WUq8_mQ</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Nope, that was Uncle Jeb and he was driving a M60 tank. He was kind of stupid. LOL</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267171 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267171 <p>Nope, that was Uncle Jeb and he was driving a M60 tank. He was kind of stupid. LOL</p> <p>and kinda dead..........</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267172 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267172 <p>and kinda dead..........</p> <p><span style="font-size: larger; ">Wow, I forgot all about that. &nbsp;That was pretty crazy!!!</span></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267177 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267177 <p><span style="font-size: larger; ">Wow, I forgot all about that. &nbsp;That was pretty crazy!!!</span></p> <p>jeeze don't get me started on parking habits...i work in a business in the savemart parking lot and we have people all the time coming in and asking if we have cameras out there that catch what goes on in the parking lot....i hear non-stop stories of near misses, scratches, and down-right rudeness/lack of common sense, as well as see many fools try to park their massive trucks in compact spots and drive halfway up on the curb to force their truck to fit.....the funniest part is, we hear most of the parking lot horror stories, and the worst ones, at christmas time...so much for the &quot;most wonderful time of the year&quot; lol</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267198 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267198 <p>jeeze don't get me started on parking habits...i work in a business in the savemart parking lot and we have people all the time coming in and asking if we have cameras out there that catch what goes on in the parking lot....i hear non-stop stories of near misses, scratches, and down-right rudeness/lack of common sense, as well as see many fools try to park their massive trucks in compact spots and drive halfway up on the curb to force their truck to fit.....the funniest part is, we hear most of the parking lot horror stories, and the worst ones, at christmas time...so much for the &quot;most wonderful time of the year&quot; lol</p> <p>Years ago I went to save mart around 9 at night and a guy I knew who just retired from the CHP was standing next to his brand new truck shaking his head because he came out of save mart to find a car that was park up front next to the front of the store had rolled into his truck because the driver of that car failed to apply the emergency brake......I still remember the look on my friends face when he saw a guy come out of save mart&nbsp;with a 12 pack or beer&nbsp;looking for his car.....The driver was Hispanic and my friend said s-it because he knew that the driver probably did not have insurance.....He was right.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267204 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267204 <p>Years ago I went to save mart around 9 at night and a guy I knew who just retired from the CHP was standing next to his brand new truck shaking his head because he came out of save mart to find a car that was park up front next to the front of the store had rolled into his truck because the driver of that car failed to apply the emergency brake......I still remember the look on my friends face when he saw a guy come out of save mart&nbsp;with a 12 pack or beer&nbsp;looking for his car.....The driver was Hispanic and my friend said s-it because he knew that the driver probably did not have insurance.....He was right.</p> <p>It would help if&nbsp;SaveMart moved the Christmas Trees someplace other than the most congested part of the lot.&nbsp; Really, putting the trees right at the throat of the lot may help their visibility, but it sure doesn't help your parking...</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267216 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/countygirl/19723/#c_267216 <p>It would help if&nbsp;SaveMart moved the Christmas Trees someplace other than the most congested part of the lot.&nbsp; Really, putting the trees right at the throat of the lot may help their visibility, but it sure doesn't help your parking...</p>