By: Greg Kuper, NMA Director of Communications
Have you ever parked way out in the middle of an empty lot just to avoid the crowd only to return to your car and find someone parked right next to you? Same here. It’s irritating, baffling, and, unfortunately, far too frequent of an occurance.
Now, if a parking lot is completely packed, you take the spot you can get…I get it. But when the place is practically deserted, and someone still decides to park RIGHT next to you, inches from your door, then it feels more like a personal attack than a coincidence. Or am I wrong?
This kind of parking behavior, whether it’s encroaching (crossing the line), crowding (too close for comfort), or just being a good old-fashioned door-dinger, is more than an annoyance. It’s inconsiderate and, in some cases, a hazard. Not being able to enter your vehicle can be downright infuriating, especially if you’re hauling groceries, herding kids, or dealing with mobility issues.
Parking Lot Courtesy May Not Be Written Into the Constitution, but It Sure Should Be Part of the Unwritten Rules of the Road.
Here’s a friendly NMA reminder:
Park straight
Leave reasonable space
Don’t be the person who parks next to the only car in a row of 50 empty spaces (unless you’re lonely)
And if you do have to park close, at least leave enough room for your neighbor to get back into their car
The National Motorists Association fights for the rights of motorists every day, but let’s also promote some good ol’ common sense and civility. After all, a little parking courtesy goes a long way. Let’s leave the “too close for comfort” for dating profiles, not parking lots.
Associated Common Terms
• Parking Too Close: The most straightforward and commonly used phrase.
• Encroaching: Used when a car crosses into or over the lines of your parking space.
• Crowding: Informal…Refers to when another vehicle parks too close for comfort.
• Dooring Hazard: Describes the risk created when someone parks so close that opening your door could cause damage or be impossible.
• Improper Parking: Formal…the term used in rules and citations. It usually includes parking too close to another vehicle.
