NOTE: Teaching handouts are now available for download for either Right or Left road driving countries with appropriate text and drawings. If you find L/R errors, omissions or oversights elsewhere on the site please let me know. Thanks!~mc.
Download teaching handout for your country's appropriate L/R version by clicking on the small Word icon [W] beneath each respective document window.
Map: Countries where drivers drive on left or right side of the road. Orange = Left
Green = Right
See: Complete list & map of left- & right-driving countries.
In countries where vehicles are driven on the left side of the road, drivers should use their left hand - i.e. far hand - to do the Dutch Reach for a safer exit.
In countries where drivers drive on the right side of the road, and seated at the left side, use right hand to do the Dutch Reach for a safer exit.
In countries where vehicles are driven on the left side of the road, drivers should use their left hand - i.e. far hand - to do the Dutch Reach for a safer exit.
In countries where drivers drive on the right side of the road, and seated at the left side, use right hand to do the Dutch Reach for a safer exit.
GENERIC DUTCH REACH DRIVER'S ED, HANDOUT: FAR HAND [All drivers & passengers.]
The ‘Dutch Reach’ is the safer way to exit your car to avoid stepping into traffic or ‘dooring’ a cyclist.
> Reach across, Swivel, Look out & back, then Open slowly ...
T
Exit when safe, Still looking back. <
Drivers & passengers use far hand to open car door.
Reach across for door handle. Forced to Swivel, you naturally Look out, at mirror & easily back for bikes & traffic. Then Open slowly, now looking back through opening. Step out, still watching for on-coming traffic.
With conscious practice, or learned as a child, the far-hand Dutch Reach becomes an automatic safe habit. It replaces one thoughtless habit with another, but this one is far safer!
It is also safer because:
- You are less able or likely to fling open the door and cause a crash.
- Side-mirror view is limited by blind spots and is lost once you move, open & exit.
- It allows continuous direct view of on-coming traffic as you open and exit.
- It works for drivers, and passengers exiting front or back, left or right.
Note: Drivers can be held criminally and civilly liable for door obstruction of traffic. Dooring can be fatal due to collision or forcing a cyclist to swerve into traffic or other obstacle. Drivers are also responsible for unsafe discharge of passengers.
- www.dutchreach.org Tip: Tie ribbon on latch as reminder... & practice!