Dutch Reach Project – A site to promote the Dutch far-hand habit to avoid dooring cyclists, or drivers or passengers from stepping into on-coming traffic. (original) (raw)

Orange on white Dutch Reach Figure Logo Icon; reduced resolution png file

DOORED? FEAR IT? TEACH the REACH! TELL EVERYONE! IT'S MUCH SAFER!

>> Reach, Swivel, Look out at mirror & back, Open slowly. <<

Dutch Reach Caution Sign: Yellow diamond sign with black silhouette of driver performing far hand anti dooring method to open latch, turned & to look over shoulder to scan for on-coming bicyclists or traffic. Figure is in ISO international standards organization's style. Design by New York Bicycling Coalition & Dutch Reach Project.

Drivers & passengers each use far hand to open car door.

Reach across for the door handle.

Forced to Swivel, you automatically Look out, at mirror & easily back for bikes & traffic.

All clear?

dutch-reach-illustratn-thk-91416lh-3-5x3

Then Open slowly to exit while remaining vigilant.

NSC Dutch Reach Video

Now in 2022 UK Highway Code

Dooring Cam Video

CarToq lesson here.

Dutch Reach Guide for Instructors, Officials, Advocates

MassDOT Video

Note: Demo misleads with open window. Best shoulder-check view back gained once door nudged open as in MassDOT's Dutch Reach animation here.

Dutch Reach Signage

MA DRIVER'S MANUAL GOES DUTCH!

Illinois Adds "Reach' to Code & Test

Washington 3rd State to Adopt 'Reach'

The Pennsylvania Dutch! (4th State)

VIDEO: THE DUTCH REACH - SAFE FOR WORK

Video transcript in English, française

View additional Dutch Reach videos & animations: in English or 12 Other Languages

Der Holländischer Griff GIF! von Stadt Berlin de

National Safety Council

10 Reasons why the Dutch far Hand Reach method for exiting vehicles to avoid dooring is safer for cyclists and car or vehicle occupants, dirvers & passengers when they open car door to exit. These reasons include: Curbs wide flinging; turns one to view side mirror; enables direct view after mirror view is lost; partial opening can warn cyclists; far grip allows fast retreat & closing; works for all exiting occupants, drivers & passengers front & rear; steps you out facing traffic; replaces flawed near hand practice; becomes an automatic muscle-memory habit, not just advise.

Not all Dutch Far Hand Reach advantages are obvious. 10 reasons are given above (click to enlarge). A more thorough explanation is given here.

Cycling Guide - Dutch Reach - NYBC, NHTSA, & GTSC from New York Bicycling Coalition on Vimeo.

The Dutch Reach illustrated & instructed by The Times of London, Sept 12, 2017. Image of driver on right side of car seen through windshield with red ribbon-like curved arrows indicating left arm reaching across to door latch, head & neck swiveling to look back through partially propped open car door, and sees bicyclist approaching from behind. Two numbered texts: 1) Driver reaches for the door handle with the left hand. 2) This forces the driver to look around.

The Dutch Reach diagram for for Left-side driving countries (UK). Credit: The Times of London. Click here for more graphics.

City of London's new Road Danger Reduction & Active Travel Plan calls for Dutch Reach training for taxi passengers. Click image for info.

Evidently, My Dear Skeptic...

The Dutch Way: Bicycling and Fresh Bread, by Russell Shorto, NYTimes Sunday Review. Describes bicycling & road sharing culture in The Netherlands. Quotes technology professor & cycling historian Ruth Oldenziel who describes the Dutch countermeasure for avoiding car door crashes with cyclists.

Professor Ruth Oldenziel, Eindhoven Univ., NL confirms that the far hand method has been commonly taught & used in The Netherlands. New York Times, 30 July 2011, by Russell Shorto. More documentation here..

Teach the Reach Flier with BIDMC logo; not DRP logo.

Dutch Reach safety poster - Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

"Exhibit A" !

Bike cam still @ 23 sec.: Driver with far hand on propped door, head turned to look back. Click to enlarge.

Dutch Reach Overview

Dooring Dutch Reach Entry header from Wikipedia, w logo globe & Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

For annotated summary, see Dutch Reach under Dooring in Wikipedia or click image.

Note Well:

Need Proof? Dutch Reach Spares Cyclist Despite Close Pass

Hungarian cyclist's bike cam shows driver peeking out of partly opened car door at 21-25 seconds. An overtaking vehicle prevents cyclist from takng the lane just as he approaches a parked car. Fearing a close pass or worse, cyclist was confined to the doorzone. Note white striped sleeve as driver's right hand reaches across his body for the door latch - a 'Dutch reach'. With the door slightly open, driver gains unobstructed view back by doing a full shoulder-check. Driver sees cyclist and delays opening door further until cyclist is safely passed.

CBC: Dutch Commonsense

1st Study: Validating 'Dutch Reach'

New Dutch Reach sticker as png or jpg. Download, print & distribute!

Latch Design Favors Far Hand Reach

AAA Teaches Reach in "How to Drive"

Dooring Self Defense for Cyclists

Dutch Reach Project Case Study; 2016 - 2020

NSC Defensive Driving Course, 10th Edition

'Far Hand Reach' (aka Dutch Reach) as taught by National Safety Council in its Defensive Driving Courses, 10th Edition, (2019) and video, in classroom courses for courts, licensing authorities, auto insurers, US military etc. .Click image to enlarge.

Sécurité Routière - Road Safety .fr

Dooring & Dutch Reach Presentation

Self-administer (!) a tutorial on the Dutch Reach, Dooring, Cyclist v Car Door History, Anti-dooring Countermeasures, Technologies, Policies & more. Two sets of slides: Main Presentation & Supplementary Slides sets available c/o Google Share. links. [2 Aug 2022]

Open door crash danger was known by the 1930s in Sweden. Source.

Love Story, Love Kitsch?

The Dutch Reach from Flywheel Film on Vimeo. GHSA of NYS & NYBC. Dec. 2021.

Dutch Reach in Wikipedia

this page.

Also @dutchreach @masto.ai
Mastodon

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