Woman killed after husband backs car into her while parking

Very sad news story. Accidents happen. I can't imagine how he feels.

Typical Japanse driver: does't care at all what is going on behind him.

The reason Japanese back into parking spots is because everyone else does, and it pisses me off. No, sure, I don't mind waiting while you back your rod in and out at the speed of a tortoise copulating - I've got all day! Here's a lesson, kids: unless you're parking on a busy road where backing out is dangerous, dive straight in. It'll save a lot of time and, apparently, lives.

Laguna: at the "speed of a tortoise copulating", he would not have killed her. Clearly, he backed up too fast.

@WiliB, my thoughts are the same. This accident and recent accidents may the government to really do something about elder drivers. But in the same sense, I have seen many wives standing at the rear of cars as they are parking. Why?

@Laguna

unless you're parking on a busy road where backing out is dangerous, dive straight in

I beg to differ - I'm scared stiff of "backing out" of our friendly neighbourhood 7/11 since there are often little kiddies (with mother several metres away) trotting along behind the parked cars... and they are much too short to be seen... I therefore always back into a parking space.

I thought that most underground and other parking garages have tire stops and usually enough space to open a car trunk. Was the man's wife about to open the trunk? To be pinned against the wall, the car would have to be going in reverse at higher than normal speed and would have to jump the tire stops and would hit the wall pinning his wife.

Very sad news to hear.

I was always taught to always reverse into a parking spot. Surprising how often this type if accidents given how many cars are now equipped with rear or surround cameras and guidance lines on the GPS display.

I saw the headine I said to myself "this is gonna be Saitama..." And even worse... It's where I live! I hope it's not one of my neighbors!

He might have done it on purpose....

I'm scared stiff of "backing out" of our friendly neighbourhood 7/11

But that's my point: think before you park. It's the lemming mentality that annoys me.

First off all, backing in is the recommended maneuver. This is because since you just drove up, you have had a good chance to see all that is happening in that area, and its much safer to back up knowing. Later when you pull out straight ahead, you won't have that advantage and you won't need it. You will be able see around you much better. People backing of parking spaces cause more accidents, and it only gets worse the less backward visibility you have, which varies with each model of car. And backing out from in between two cars is the worst, depending on things like the height of those cars.

My only problem with backing in is that so many people here are just so awful at parking. I saw a Japanese guy back into a parking spot in one go the other day. I was slightly amazed cause its so rare. But he had to partially open his door and look out to do it. (facepalm) That means he had a massive blind spot on the other side.

Next, those of you saying this man must have backed in quickly. No, not at all. Believe me, Japanese people are very patient, and will stand there quietly as you slowly squish them against the wall. They only expect a "gomen nasai" after, and it need not even be sincere. Deer in the headlights. Think deer in the headlights.

An awareness issue? People in car parks ignore my reversing lights and cross very close behind me far too often.

Why the heck did she exit the vehicle before her husband properly parked? Yeah, Stewart. They prob had an arguement just prior so he did it on purpose.

Clearly, backing in initially is preferable to having to back out later based on visual familiarity with the parking spot, greater manuveribility of the car because the front steering wheels are not restricted by other parked cars on either side, and lastly if one has to back out the driver is essentially blind until half the car has emerged from the parking spot. Try it yourself and see!!

Maybe she was going for the reusable shopping bags in the trunk. That's where we keep ours.

It's much easier to reverse into a parking space - you can get into a much smaller (shorter) space if parking on a roadside, and you can get into a narrow space more easily when in a car park. It's part of the driving test for that reason.

I live in a road with limited parking and can reverse into a space only a little longer than my car, whereas driving in would be impossible.

The poor man is absolutely not at fault for reversing - it's part of driving. I can only think he was too hasty.

@Wc626 - due to the narrowness of the parking spaces, it is often easiest to get out of the car before it is parked. But you should stand to the front and side of the car, not behind it.

So how is it? If the driver kills a relative, it's an accident． But if he kills a stranger it's a crime．

Backing in is much safer and easier than backing out into traffic.

This is just a tragic accident..

Why is it that when a Japanese driver had an unfortunate incident like this so many would jump for a slice of meat in mocking the sad event? Search around the world's news and you won't find it hard to locate some of the most silly and meaningless similar automobile related incidents/accidents. Although we all can learn something here, dead SLOW and verify again before backing, or moving out of parking with blind spots around. You can't be more careful. And you won't kill if you're a dead slow. I will never be able to live with myself if I ever harm anybody as a consequence of not looking around carefully enough. As for those impatient drivers, please bear in mind the driving system around the world doesn't cater for the best drivers. It's all about average people, so please have some patience and don't make a mountain out of mole hill. I have only had ONE case of an old grandpa who blocked the carpark exit and just couldn't back his small Kei. Eventually I stepped out and just offered to park his car as the line was just getting too long. ONE case, in 10 years of driving in Japan.

But in the same sense, I have seen many wives standing at the rear of cars as they are parking. Why?

To guide the driver into the spot better. Fairly common in Japan