‘Rethink how you open a car door’

Cyclists are calling on the Government to include instructions in the Highway Code on how vehicle occupants should open doors. Cycling UK wants the Code to endorse a practice known as the ‘Dutch Reach’ after a common practice in the Netherlands for drivers to open doors with their far hand rather than the hand nearest the door. For example,  in the UK a car driver would open the door with their left hand, and a front seat passenger would open the door with their right hand. “As you reach across your chest, your body naturally turns, making it easier not just to check your mirrors for oncoming traffic (including cyclists), but it also places you in a position to actually see the traffic,” explains Cycling UK. “As you’re reaching across your body, you can ensure the door only opens partially, not to its full extent.”