Jan 28, 2022, 08:33 AM by Robin Sutton

The Dutch Reach is designed to protect cyclists from riding into car doors opened by unobservant drivers or passengers. Instead of the driver opening the door with their right hand, risking not looking round before exiting the car, the ‘Dutch Reach’ sees the motorist using their left hand instead.

There is an excellent YouTube video that explains the technique here

This has been taught in Holland for many years to avoid 'Car Dooming' where cyclists and other road users are the victim of car users opening their doors without effectively  looking to see if it is safe to do so. 

How the ‘Dutch Reach’ works:

• You pull up on the left hand side of the road and park

• You reach across your body with your left hand to grab the door handle

• As you turn your body, this movement instinctively makes you look at the side mirror before looking over your shoulder

• You check the road behind you for cyclists, pedestrians or other road users

• You open the car safely, fully aware of what is going on around and behind your car.

The new Highway Code states:

Where you are able to do so, you should open the door using your hand on the opposite side to the door you are opening;

for example,

use your left hand to open a door on your right-hand side. This will make you turn your head to look over your shoulder. You are then more likely to avoid causing injury to cyclists or motorcyclists passing you on the road, or to people on the pavement.

Note that it says you are more likely, this method is not infallible. In my car the position of the door handle and the seat is such that using the technique has little effect on where I look! There is no substitute for being fully aware of your surroundings - perhaps the Dutch Reach also acts as a reminder to think before you act.