Officials’ Dutch Reach Instruction Guide

 

 

This introduction details the Dutch Reach far-hand habit for safest exiting of vehicles.  Comparison is made to the near-hand habit which it should replace for reasons soon to be made clear.  Below the Guide you can see how this countermeasure is instructed by other governments, road safety experts and advocates.

'Dutch Reach' instructions range from a few words - Open with far hand  - to multiple steps.  No one phrase, text or set of steps fits all.  But the examples below may help you craft your own version.  Other wording, graphics & videos can be found elsewhere on this site, including accounts in 32 languages & versions for left-side of road nations.

Feel free to browse the Gallery below first. But come back up for the talk!..:

A GUIDED TOUR OF 'DUTCH REACH'

The Dutch Reach can be taught in one short phrase.  However truly safe exiting requires multiple steps before, during & after its signature move. 

Wonderfully, the far-hand habit automatically prompts - even compels - all succeeding steps.  And each new step adds more safety, as will be explained.

While you work to craft concise instructions, it's worth keeping in mind the hidden steps and rationales.  This knowledge may shape your final wording.  It may also help you draft curricula or prepare briefings, press releases, behavior change campaigns, advocacy letters, etc.

So please consider this detailed set of 'Dutch Reach' instructions:

1.  Turn off ignition, set brake, release seat belt.
2.  Check both outside and inside rear-view mirrors for vehicles & cyclists in back and in adjacent bike or travel lanes.
   
3. Using hand further from door, Reach across to door latch.  [Note: This forces upper body & head to turn outward; the near hand habit does not cause rotation.]
4. Mid-swivel, (again) Check side/wing mirror.  [Note: Near hand habit does not induce side-mirror use.]
5. Twist further, look out the side & back over outer shoulder for oncoming road users.  [Note: Near hand habit again encourages neither. In fact using near hand on latch cripples shoulder-check as it freezes the outer shoulder.  This blocks torso rotation.  One's turned head & eyes cannot twist further to get the view directly back.
6. Still vigilant for oncoming traffic, Unlatch door but keep hand grasped upon handle.
7. If safe, with near hand now assisting, Open door a few inches & lean slightly out to gain a clear, unobstructed view back for approaching traffic.
   [Note:  On this point multiple advantages result --

a)  Reaching across ones body to operate the latch and open the door automatically curbs sudden, wide or flung opening.  This habituated safety gain over the near hand push or thrust habit is immense -- and vastly under-appreciated:  Few people can push or shove a door wide open using the far arm. And no one can if their far-hand latch grip is kept hold.  But a near-hand push or shove allows and even encourages door throwing.

b)  Fast, flung, ambush opening startles or completely blindsides cyclists.  Too often it results in grave harm.  A handlebar nick can crash the bicyclist and throw them into the roadway.  A direct hard impact of  bike or body, or desperate swerving with loss of control, cause violent crashes, against or even over the door wall. Even without loss of control a quick swerve to avoid direct dooring puts the cyclist in path of vehicles and can prove fatal. 

c)  Far hand on door latch and near hand on arm rest retain one's ability to retract door quickly, or prevent a gust blowing it open - which can also damage the door.

d)  Window, door frame & 'B' pillar no longer limit exiter's  view back.

e)  The side mirror alone cannot provide full safety.  In addition to misadjustment, blindspots, glare, darkness, compromising dirt or water, etc., once a motorist shifts or  turns  their head or, if the side mirror is door-mounted and the door then opened, its view back is completely lost.  Some side mirrors now include a small convex secondary mirror which, though distorting, may help. However the continuous, unobstructed direct view back encouraged and achievable by the Reach method provides the most assured view, and does so just when the decision to open for exit is to be made.

f)  The Reach method is especially needed for rear passengers. For they lack all mirrors. Likewise, the inside rear view mirror serves only the driver - and is useless for front passengers.

g)  Slow partial opening can warn cyclists & may allow time to yell and cause the operator to retract the door as their hands still control it.  This nudge warning gives a cyclist chance to brake or more safely steer to avoid harm.

h)  Slight initial opening also allows cyclists more safe space to manuever and reduce swerve risk.

8.  All clear? Open slowly. Remain vigilant. Exit facing traffic, ready to retreat if needed.  [Note: With far hand still on door latch, drivers & passengers naturally exit facing back.  Near hand habit positions motorists to exit facing forward, their back to oncoming traffic.  Also, with door still held during exit, occupants are less likely to release and open door to its widest extent - a practice which should be discouraged unless necessary.]

9.  Still facing traffic, walk around back of vehicle to gain sidewalk.  [Note: The Reach thus guides all vehicle occupants to exit more safely onto and then off the roadway.]

Taken altogether, the Dutch Reach method minimizes dooring risks and harms for cyclists & other vulnerable road users and their vehicles.  It is also safer for drivers & passengers at no cost but for habit retraining.  It avoids door damage, traffic violations, fines, license loss, insurance claims & point penalties, civil liability & criminal prosecutions, life disruptions & delays, work time or employment loss, shame and guilt.  Society too is spared needless police, rescue, hospital long term medical costs, road blockage, municipal, court and other resource depletion.

As shown, the Dutch Reach increases the safety margin of drivers who already exercise some caution on exiting.  It would greatly reduce the hazard of drivers (found by British survey at 35%) and passengers who habitually do not.

See also: Far Hand is Safer Than You Think!, The Habit of Safety & Practice Tips.

A Comment on Dooring
Most motorists & passengers are unaware of dooring risks or the coinages 'dooring,' 'car-dooring' or 'doored.'  Fewer know 'Dutch Reach', or why our near hand 'commonsense' push habit is dangerously flawed.  They also may not know the term 'Vulnerable Road User,' or that doorings involve not just bicyclists, but also motorcyclists, mopeds, scooters, joggers in-like skaters even pedestrians; also that trucks, buses, streetcars, vans, pickups or other cars can be 'doored,' or door them, taking doors & lives with them.