As you can see on the pictures below, an absolute majority of the cars are backed in to their parking spots. This is how the Japanese drivers park most of the time. In order to get a driving license, anyone in Japan must attend a 3-month driving school, and it is not cheap either (according to some people, up to $3,000). During the school (according to an inside source), the new drivers are being taught to back into their driving spots because their brain is still in the driving mode when they finish driving. And once they get back in the car and start driving, their brain is not in the driving mode, so it is easier (and, probably, safer) to just start driving forward. Now, I am not sure whether it is really taught in the driving school, but to me it makes total sense.
Подавляющее большинство японцев въезжают на парковочные места задом. Как сообщают местные источники, чтоб получить права в Японии, надо пройти трехмесячные курсы (стоимостью до 3-х тысяч долларов). Во время обучения, будущие водители узнают что парковаться лучше задом потому, что во время парковки мысли настроены на вождение. Таким образом, легче задом заехать на стоянку окончив движение, чем потом “на свежую голову” задом начинать движение автомобиля, покидая парковочное место. Я не знаю насколько это правда или нет, и не видел научного подтверждения этой гипотезы, но как мне кажется, вполне вероятно.
LOL, what kind of inside source? We park from back because it is actually easier to park from narrow road to small parking space (well, of course it's depend on the car but...). And I didn't go to the school to get license, but you are right, 99.9% of people go to the school. :)
ReplyDeleteJust a friend of mine. I guess his instructor told him to back into the spot for the reason I mentioned above. How did you manage to get your license without going to a school? Did you also have to pay a lot of money? Thanks for your part of the story!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you - it does make sense. However, going to a 3 month driving school doesn't. If I don't know how to drive now ....
ReplyDeleteWell, it's different in different countries. Russia, for example, also has a formal driving school. There are courses for the young drivers in the US as well. And from my experience, some people may spend years in school and they still will not get it, while some people have the natural skill.
ReplyDeleteWide plowed roads, good cars, also help in driving safety.