You may not have realized this before, but the way you open your car door after parking can be extremely important. Believe it or not, you can actually do quite a bit of damage in your car while it’s parked. However, the Dutch have found a simple way to avoid possible accidents while disembarking from your car, and all you have to do is change the way you open the car door just slightly. This solution is called the Dutch Reach, and it’s becoming an increasingly popular and recommended part of driving.
What Is the Dutch Reach?
Simply put, the Dutch Reach requires you to open your car door with your right hand, which is the hand furthest from the door, instead of using your left hand which is, perhaps, easier, and therefore the common and almost instinctive choice, but far less effective. This seemingly small act can make a huge difference because opening the door with your right-hand causes your body to turn so you the road behind you is completely visible to you as you open the door. The people of the Netherlands have been practicing this method of door-opening for years, and in doing so, they have prevented numerous accidents.
Why Is It Important?
Using the Dutch Reach could potentially help avoid numerous collisions that can occur, more specifically bike crashes. Most cities have bike lanes that are often right beside places suitable for parking. Most people have experienced moments opening their car door and having an oncoming cyclist or jogger nearly crash into it, or even perhaps another car.
A report on bike crashes in the city of Chicago, Illinois, between 2010 and 2012 noted that up to 19.7% of bike crashes occurred due to collisions into car doors, a phenomenon now termed as “dooring”. A similar study in the UK in 2011 also found that nearly 600 cyclists received injuries due to such collisions or while attempting to avoid colliding with a car door.
This problem has become ever increasing as the number of people choosing to use cycling as a regular form of transportation grows. There are also concerns for the younger generation, given that many children opt to cycle to school.
The Dutch Reach in America
Given that the Dutch Reach is an easy, simple and efficient way of helping to prevent parking accidents and door-based collisions, i.e., dooring, it’s no surprise that this method of disembarking from cars has made its way to America. An organization based out of Massachusetts called the Dutch Reach Project has made spreading the word about the Dutch Reach their foremost goal. They provide numerous helpful tips on how to get acquainted with using the Dutch Reach, though their motto “Reach, Swivel, Look Out & Back, Open Slowly”, clearly lists out the steps involved in the Dutch Reach.
For the few (or perhaps more than few) out there who may refuse to make a change to their door-opening habits, usually, because old habits die hard, the Dutch Reach Project is pushing for legislation that will require the Dutch Reach to be taught in Driver’s Education classes. Further, it’s important to note that in most cases where injuries have occurred due to “dooring”, the driver is usually held responsible for the act, which results in penalties that may include fines, revoked or suspended licenses, and even jail time.
The Dutch Reach Project has had some success. The state of Massachusetts added the Dutch Reach as a countermeasure for preventing accidents in the 2017 edition of their Driver’s Manual. The hope remains that other states will follow suit, and the Dutch Reach will become a habit common to every car-owning household in the country. With that, and a little luck, there’s hope to bring the number of dooring accidents in various states down to 0, and make the streets safe for cyclists and drivers alike!
Comparing 10 Water Filter Pitchers to Find You the Best
Stay tuned to the end of this video to find out which water filtering pitcher actually works, and why.
Warning! Avoid These Exercises If You're Over 50
Once you're in your fifties, choosing to work out in the same way you did in your twenties is quite simply a recipe for disaster! Learn more here.
Here's a Workout You Can Do EVERYWHERE
You don't even need sports shoes for this workout! This is the perfect routine for people who travel a lot.
If You Do These 6 Things, Burglars Won’t Target Your Car
Tips to effectively protect your vehicle from burglary and theft
Everything You Wanted to Know About Your Car Tires
This short article will cover everything a car owner needs to know to maintain tire performance year-round - both in rain and drought.
Salt Has Many More Uses & Benefits Than You Ever Imagined
Salt has been in use for thousands of years, and also happens to have thousands of uses. Here's a selection of them that you probably weren't aware of before.
Some Great and Cheap Ways You Can Remove Rust from Metal
Where's there's metal, there's rust - it's an ever annoying problem. These remedies allow you to restore rusty items without using harmful chemicals!
How To Prevent Roaches From Entering Your Home
Learn some useful tips as you struggle to keep roaches out of your home.
An A-Z of Carpet Cleaning - The Ultimate Guide!
There are so many different kinds of carpet stains that it's hard to know how to clean them all. Here is the ultimate A-Z carpet cleaning guide.
10 Smart Ways to Neutralize Any and All Shoe Odors
To combat shoe smells, we've compiled a list of 10 simple solutions that are readily available in most households.
Experts Warn Against Ordering These Foods at Restaurants
According to the experts, you should avoid ordering the following 8 foods at restaurants. You'll want to heed their advice.
I Use Grandma's Old Trick for Cleaning Copper Pots
This is how to easily clean your copper pots.
Knowing These 12 Things Could Save Your Life One Day
We hope that you’ll never need to use any of these tips, but in case you do, they will help you or others survive 12 life-threatening situations.
If Only I Had Discovered these Cleaning Tips Sooner
10 not-so-obvious tips about cleaning that are both surprising, yet very effective.
21 Things a Burglar Could Tell You, But Certainly Won't
This post could save your possessions, or even your life, someday. That's why you have to make sure that you read it!
These Life-Changing Tricks Will Make Your Scalp Less Oily
We will show you how to make your hair produce less oil and give handy tips and DIY tricks that can help reduce the appearance of oily hair
Mold Will Be a Thing of the Past With These Home Remedies
Mildew and mold are pesky household invaders. Here are 5 easy ways to get rid of them using just natural household ingredients.
Incredibly Simple Homemade Rust Cleaner for Your Bathroom
Rust stains on porcelain surfaces can be a real pain, but they're easily removed with material you probably have in your kitchen.
Banish Your Skin's Pimply Blemishes with These 8 Remedies
You thought and hoped you'd left those acne ridden days behind you. Well with these 8 home-remedies you may finally be able to enjoy pimple free skin.
15 Differences between Men and Women That Explain a Lot
Discover surprising biological differences between men and women, which can explain many things you thought about both sexes.
7 Sounds Your Cat Makes and What They Mean
This video will show you the 7 different sounds cats make and the purpose for each of them.
Avoid These Email Clichés and Communicate More Effectively
Watch out for the outdated phrases below and upgrade your email vocabulary with thoughtful and unique sentiments.
Don’t Throw Out These Foods When They Hit The Expiry Date
All 14 of these foods shouldn’t typically be tossed when they reach their expiration date, and you’re about to find out why.
Travel Through Time: History's Best & Worst Makeup Moments
Makeup tastes and trends have changed dramatically over the years, and this great video proves it...
Say Goodbye to Your Weeds with These Natural Weed Killers
Trying to find a way to kill your garden weeds without killing your plants? These 8 all-natural weed-killing tips are just what you're looking for!
Do You Know When to Go to Bed? Just Follow Our Tips
A great way to boost your health is to make sure you are getting enough sleep. Here are 10 bedtime rituals that are sure to get you in the mood to sleep.
These 27 Household Hacks Will Make Housework a Breeze
Doing housework can be such a drag sometimes, but these 27 household hacks are here to help!
Warning: Don't Put These in the Washer or Dryer!
The washing machine and the dryer are two very efficient inventions that help us a lot - but the following 9 items are best kept away from them.
Learn to Replace a Bathroom Faucet: Step by Step Tutorial
after watching this step by step video tutorial, you’ll know how to replace a bathroom faucet like a real pro...
Get Wax Out of Your Clothes Easily with This Guide
If you've got wax stuck on your fabrics, this is the best way to go about removing it.
This Handy DIY Project Will Have You Collecting Corks
There are so many useful things you can do with a cork. Start collecting your now!
Freeze Your Food Quickly and Efficiently with These Tips
Which foods can you freeze for later use?
Cheap and Great Tips for Removing Rust from Any Surface!
Ugly rust will become a thing of the past, using these simple methods to remove it from metal surfaces and even clothes.
LIFE HACKS: 30 Practical Uses for Olive Oil!
3o things you can use olive oil for other than cooking with it.
12 Fruit and Vegetables That are Dangerous to Consume
Which fruit and vegetables have the most pesticides on them? Find out here!
10 Essential Tips to Revamp Your Home on a Budget
Looking to renovate your home? Here's how to do so on a budget.
The One Ingredient in Shampoo that Damages Our Hair...
Most shampoos have at least this one ingredient that might damage your hair - protein.
Is Your Dryer Getting Slow? These Tips May Help!
There are a number of common reasons why a dryer might stop working efficiently. Here are 5 of them!
Gordon Ramsay Teaches Us How to Cook the Perfect Steak!
One of the world's most famous chefs is going to show you how to cook a steak to utter, mouth-watering perfection.
Maintain Your Credibility By Avoiding the Following Words
There are certain words that many of us tend to use habitually. Unfortunately we use them to our detriment, as they harm our credibility. Find out more.
4 Stylish Haircuts that Take Years Off Your Face
Sometimes, all it takes to look years younger is a change in your hair style and color.
You May Have Been Washing Your Hair Wrong Your Whole Life!
This simple guide will explain why you haven't been washing your hair properly and how to do the right way to make sure your hair is healthy and strong!
50 Great Kitchen Hack That Everyone Should Know About
Spending time in the kitchen makes you realize that you can do things a lot quicker than you thought possible. Let me share my tips with you.
Watch This and Become a Knot Expert!
Become a knotting expert with this educational guide. Some of these knots can be life-saving...
Warning: Using Dryer Sheets May Cause You Health Problems
Is it really such a good idea to use dryer sheets? The answer may shock you.
How To Keep Your Bread Fresher For That Much Longer...
if you're wondering how to make your bread last longer, read the following article and learn about 5 different methods of doing just that!