The Dutch Reach is a simple change of habit that can save lives.
Every year, at least 500 people across England, Wales and Scotland are injured when someone opens a car door into their path – but the actual figure is much higher, as many collisions aren’t reported.
The Dutch Reach encourages you to open your car door safely. Instead of using the hand closest to the door, reach across with the hand furthest from the door – your left hand if you’re a driver (in the UK). By using the Dutch Reach, you naturally turn your body towards the window, helping you spot approaching cyclists and other traffic. It also allows you to open the door slowly and carefully, rather than swinging it open in one movement.
It is a criminal offence to open a car door or permit a passenger to do so in a way which injures or endangers anyone. That means you could be prosecuted if your passenger knocks a cyclist off when they open their car door.
The Department for Transport Figures for the period 2011-2015 show that there were 8 deaths and 3,108 injuries directly linked to car doors being opened and The Government have pledged that the Highway Code will be updated to include the technique.
At Begin Driving all our instructors have received CDP training to include this technique as part of our training programme.
For further information watch the video below produced by Cycling UK in partnership with Uber.
