How to reverse park without a backup camera

How to reverse park without a camera

The backup or reverse camera is an accessory that now comes standard in almost every vehicle that rolls off the showroom.  It assists the driver in reversing into those tricky parking spots and shows him how far, or near, his car is to another vehicle or an obstacle. Some even go one up better and have a 360-view option offered where the screen on your dashboard looks like you're watching yourself park with a drone hovering over your vehicle, making the chore of parking backward much more convent.

But what happens when these gadgets break down, and you need to back up that parking spot without any modern conveniences available? Do you just back up and look at the blank screen where it used to show your video, grip the wheel, mash the throttle, and hope for the best? I think not!

Now, if you don't want to pay for damage to your car, the car next to you, and public property, here are a few tips on properly backing your vehicle into that digitally invisible parking spot.

1. Use your side view mirrors.

All cars now have left, and right-side view mirrors. These assist you in checking clearances on the left and right sides of the vehicle. When parking in reverse, adjust your mirrors to point down a bit more so you can see the ground and its parking guidelines or obstructions in your way. Modern vehicles already have this feature. 

2. Use your rear-view mirror.

If you didn't already know, your rear-view mirror gives you a view of what goes on behind your vehicle. Make sure it's adjusted well enough to provide a clear picture of what's behind you so you can see where you are going when you reverse and for any hazards behind your vehicle, such as people walking behind or abandoned shopping karts. 

3. Physically turn and look around and behind you.

This method doesn't use mirrors and will force you to do some actual movement. We understand you may not be used to this anymore, considering all the available gadgets, but this is personally my preferred way to back up into a parking spot. 

If the area is clear, one tried and tested method is the arm-over-passenger-headrest-twist-back-technique. This technique is also sometimes used by some men on the dating scene. Here, you'll see what's behind and on the right side of your car quickly. You can also check out both mirrors with a glance and assess how far you are from another vehicle or whether your car is squarely inside the parking slot lines.

You can also go down the vehicle to check your chosen spot for any hazards that are in the way. Don't forget to look at your car's left and right sides to see if there's enough space available on both sides.

4. Have someone help you out

If you are lucky, some places where you park have parking boys or "bantay" around and are more than willing to help you out with a nice tip. I would suggest that if you accept their help, tip generously. Doing so reduces the risk of having the "bantay" not take care of your prized possession. 

If there is no parking attendant available, have a friend step out of the vehicle to be your guide and eyes,  especially if you do this outdoors in rainy weather. This tip is the best if you don't particularly like your friend. Make sure to turn down your music and, if possible, open your windows and bit so you can hear their instructions. 

Your friend or parking attendant can also do the time-and-tested method of continuously knocking on your vehicle's trunk as you are backing up.  A final hard knock signifies it is time to stop. This last knock though could be your frenemy's revenge for making them get out of the car in the rain to help you park.

Conclusion

With these tips, you are now well armed to head out into the world and park your vehicle backward into any parking spot. Do not forget that you should do all these tried-and-tested techniques with caution and awareness of your surroundings. Don't rush into that parking spot, do it slowly and correctly, and you will successfully slide your car into any parking spot that fits it.