Opening a car door seems routine, but it can lead to serious accidents, especially in busy urban areas. A police officer shared a life-saving tip: always open your car door with your right hand, a technique called the Dutch Reach. Using your left hand, closer to the handle, often means swinging the door open without checking behind you, risking collisions with cyclists, scooters, or passing cars—known as “dooring accidents.”
The Dutch Reach forces you to reach across your body, naturally turning your shoulders, swiveling your head, and checking your mirror. This small shift ensures you spot approaching traffic before opening the door. Widely taught in the Netherlands, where cycling is common, it’s a required part of their driving test and is promoted globally by safety organizations, appearing in driving manuals in the US and UK.
With more cyclists and e-scooter riders sharing roads, this habit reduces risks and saves lives. It’s easy to adopt and quickly becomes second nature. After learning this, I’ll never open my door the same way again. Next time you park, remember: reach with your right, save a life.