Use the “Dutch Reach” to Keep Fellow Road Users Safe

Remember: If you have parked your car at a curb on the right side of the street, reach for your door handle with your right hand.

It’s a simple movement – known as the “Dutch Reach” – that can help you prevent “dooring” a passing cyclist or scooter user. By opening the door with your far hand, your body swivels and your eyeline naturally shifts into the street, helping you to avoid swinging your door open into a passing cyclist.

Dooring is a common accident that can occur when people in a vehicle do not look for non-vehicular road users before opening the door. According to MTC’s Vital Signs website, over 200 cyclists on average are injured in accidents with vehicles each year, and some of these crashes are fatal.

Dooring is preventable, especially when vehicle users employ the “Dutch Reach” before opening car doors.

It’s easy to do the "Dutch Reach:"

• Step 1: Reach for the door handle using your far hand.
• Step 2: Look for cyclists, scooters or pedestrians who may be passing.
• Step 3: Open the door slowly.
• Step 4: Exit the vehicle and quickly step away from the path of traffic.

The "Dutch Reach" was named in the Netherlands, where more than 25% of all trips are made by bicycle.

MTC works with cities and counties on making roads safer for all users. Vision Zero is an initiative with a goal to eliminate roadway injuries and deaths in the Bay Area. As leaders of the Active Transportation & Vision Zero Regional Coordination Project, MTC is working with cities, towns and counties to achieve a vision of a safe, accessible, connected “all ages and abilities” active transportation network that meets regional Vision Zero goals.