Supermarket customers have been issued a warning about how they park. Experts say drivers should always reverse into a parking space – and there are three reasons.

According to the motoring specialists on a Nottingham University training test, one in five traffic accidents happen in a car park. While this includes all car parks, research by Which? previously found that your car is twice as likely to get hit in a supermarket car park compared to one in a shopping centre.

The experts said: “When it comes to parking bays, you should be reverse parking. By that, we mean you should be reversing into your bay, so you can drive out forwards when you leave.

“The main reason is the one you might expect: Safety. You might be wondering, “How is it any safer to reverse into a bay?

“Good question. Let’s take a look:

• It’s better to reverse into an empty bay than out into a roadway where there may be moving traffic or pedestrians
• When you’ve just turned the engine on, it’s easier to control a car going forwards rather than backwards
• You’re more likely to be concentrating when you’ve just entered a car, rather than after you’ve been driving for a while

Highlighting the significant number of accidents occurring in car parks, they pointed out that this is a considerable percentage given the relatively short amount of time spent driving in these areas. They also noted the human cost, citing US statistics of 15,000 injuries and 250 fatalities caused by reversing drivers, reports Lancs Live.

It added: “We’re not saying, ‘reverse park and you’ll never have another car accident again!’. It’s about reducing risks and creating a culture of safety.

“But there are other benefits to reverse parking. For example, did you know it’s more fuel efficient?

“According to research from the Institute of Advanced Motorists, reversing out of a parking space with a cold engine uses up to 25 times more fuel in the first few seconds than a warm engine. That adds up, in terms of money, engine wear-and-tear and your carbon footprint. Reverse parking is basically better for everyone.”

How to reverse into parking space

The AA says people need to know how to bay park as it is a “skill worth mastering”. Apart from the other benefits for learner drivers there is a one in three chance they will have to perform the manoeuvre on their driving test.

The motoring organisation has drawn up a guide to bay parking for beginners. This is what it advises on reverse bay parking:

What should I look for?

“To park accurately, you want your car to be fully within the bay lines. Try not to stick out, or clip the kerb – or anything else.

“You should also have good all-round observation at all times during the manoeuvre. You should be looking for potential hazards, such as pedestrians or other vehicles.

“There might be a dog without a lead or a small child so you need to stay alert. If there are any road users nearby or approaching you, you should always stop to let them pass. Only continue with the manoeuvre when it’s safe to do so.”

How do I reverse bay park?

The AA says: “We recommend reverse bay parking when you can, it is easier to make your observations and to see other road users. In your driving test, you pick the bay that you will park in. Try to choose a space that will give you plenty of room for the manoeuvre.

“We have outlined the steps for you to reverse park on the left side. If you reverse park on the right side just reverse the instructions.

• Assess and decide what parking bay can fit your vehicle, depth and width.
• Position your vehicle towards the centre of the road, this will make the turn easier to get between the lines.
• Pull up around two car lengths past the bay you have chosen.
• Put the gear in reverse, and slowly reverse your car up to the point of turn. This reference point is usually the third line from the bay you are aiming for lines up with your side door.
• Check all around to see it’s clear and make your observations, including your blind spots and rear-view window.
• Now steer full lock left, slowly moving the vehicle into the bay whilst constantly checking around your vehicle.
• Check your left-wing mirror for the left line of your parking bay to appear and check your right-wing mirror for the right line of your parking bay to appear.
• Straighten the steering wheel as the car is parallel with the white lines of the bay.
• You can check you are straight by both white lines appearing in your wing mirrors.
• Keep edging back slowly into the bay, without hitting a wall, or the kerb or another car behind your vehicle.
• You are allowed to drive forward and to readjust your position and reverse back in if you need to.
• When you leave the bay check all blind spots and make sure you know the point of direction to exit.
• Pull out slowly, and wait until a third of your vehicle is out of the bay before turning the steering wheel to the point of exit.