Why drivers in Asia prefer reverse parking while Americans prefer forward parking?

Imagine you’re looking for a place to park your car at a shopping mall and when you finally found a space that didn’t have a sneaky Kancil/Kelisa/Viva/Smart car parked inside, what do you do? Do you forward park or reverse park?

Most of the time, Malaysians would choose to reverse park rather than head first. There are some pros and cons to either way of parking which we’ve covered before.

Also read: Reverse parking vs forward parking: Which is better?

However, Malaysia isn’t alone when it comes to preferring reverse parking. This method is widely accepted in most Asian countries and in some countries like Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, it is the universally preferred way of parking.

Meanwhile, in the West, drivers in Europe and the States (Australia too) prefer forward parking and reverse parking is very uncommon in these countries. Why is there such a huge difference between the two hemispheres?

Contrary to what many people believe, Japan and Singapore do not have specific laws on how vehicles should be parked there. In fact, the reason why drivers in these countries prefer reverse parking is more on convenience and population density.

The first factor is easy to explain. Reverse parking is more efficient and cars are more manoeuvrable in tight spots when in reverse. Plus, reverse parking is generally safer as the driver is reversing into an empty space instead of moving traffic.

Also read: Who needs reverse cameras when you have smart dogs like these?

Manoeuvrability is also another factor that revolves around how these parking spaces are designed. As space is considerably limited, most of the spaces are purposely designed to only allow for reverse parking which requires less space for parking.

As for the second factor, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore are among the highest in the world when it comes to population density. Because of this, the need for space is quite high but it is limited. It is interesting to see this phenomenon spread into most major cities in Asia like Kuala Lumpur and Seoul even if reverse parking isn’t as universally accepted.

Meanwhile, in Europe, America, and Australia, these countries have a lower population density. Supermarkets offer ample parking spaces there and grocery shopping is less frequent. Besides, these supermarkets and malls are located quite far from the city so, most of the time, forward parking is preferred.

Speaking of shopping, since it is something that is done on a fortnight or even a monthly basis, it is easier to load their purchases in a car that has been parked forward.

In the end, the main reason why reverse parking is mainly accepted in Asia is due to population density. Compared to the West, the supermarkets and other facilities are often located in the city centre in Asia.

Though there some aids that help with parking, whether it is cameras, sensors, or even automatic parking, it is important to be alert no matter which way you choose to park your ride.

Also read: No, ASA won't prevent the Perodua Myvi crash in Puchong - limits of pedal misoperation control