All drivers and passengers in the UK have been warned about Highway Code rule changes to how they open their doors.

A new rule has been put in place to protect cyclists.

Instead of blindly opening a door, the 'Dutch Reach' requires you to use the hand furthest the door to open it - if you're the one behind the wheel, you'd use your left hand, on the passenger side, you would use your right.

Opening the door with the hand furthest away prompts a driver to turn their body towards the door and look over their shoulder as they go to leave their car.

The over-the-shoulder look as you reach for your door handle is a vital part of the method.

By doing this, they will get sight of any cyclists or pedestrians passing by their car that they may have missed if they hadn't checked.
The 2022 driving laws and changes you need to know

The new section under rule 239 will now read: "Where you are able to do so, you should open the door using your hand on the opposite side to the door you are opening; for example, use your left hand to open a door on your right-hand side.

"This will make you turn your head to look over your shoulder. You are then more likely to avoid causing injury to cyclists or motor cyclists passing you on the road, or to people on the pavement."

If you injure someone by opening your door you can be punished by a fine of up to £1,000 but no penalty points can be added to the offender’s licence.

Extensive campaigning on the 'Dutch Reach' by Cycling UK has been key to the implementation of the new advice, says Devon Live.

Cycling UK estimate that over 500 people in the UK are injured annually by motorists opening a car door into someone's cycle path.

The issue was further brought into the public eye in 2016 when Chris Grayling, who was then serving as Transport Secretary, was caught knocking a cyclist off their bike when opening his door on Whitehall.

This technique is borrowed from the Netherlands, where it has always been used as standard for exiting a vehicle - hence the name, 'Dutch Reach.'

The latest addition of the Highway Code and the legal enforcement of new rules, comes into force on Saturday 29 January.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/new-highway-code-rule-fine-22818984?fbclid=IwAR17nj6VG-veMdcjz2e5I5FJhv0lz9rLDf0MFc-Z2Y9i8aVEBqpCBzjr7wA

On 21/01/2022 01:44 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

> All drivers and passengers in the UK have been warned about Highway Code rule changes to how they open their doors.
> A new rule has been put in place to protect cyclists.
> Instead of blindly opening a door, the 'Dutch Reach' requires you to use the hand furthest the door to open it - if you're the one behind the wheel, you'd use your left hand, on the passenger side, you would use your right.
> Opening the door with the hand furthest away prompts a driver to turn their body towards the door and look over their shoulder as they go to leave their car.
> The over-the-shoulder look as you reach for your door handle is a vital part of the method.
> By doing this, they will get sight of any cyclists or pedestrians passing by their car that they may have missed if they hadn't checked.
> The 2022 driving laws and changes you need to know
> The new section under rule 239 will now read: "Where you are able to do so, you should open the door using your hand on the opposite side to the door you are opening; for example, use your left hand to open a door on your right-hand side.
> "This will make you turn your head to look over your shoulder. You are then more likely to avoid causing injury to cyclists or motor cyclists passing you on the road, or to people on the pavement."
> If you injure someone by opening your door you can be punished by a fine of up to £1,000 but no penalty points can be added to the offender’s licence.
> Extensive campaigning on the 'Dutch Reach' by Cycling UK has been key to the implementation of the new advice, says Devon Live.
> Cycling UK estimate that over 500 people in the UK are injured annually by motorists opening a car door into someone's cycle path.
> The issue was further brought into the public eye in 2016 when Chris Grayling, who was then serving as Transport Secretary, was caught knocking a cyclist off their bike when opening his door on Whitehall.
> This technique is borrowed from the Netherlands, where it has always been used as standard for exiting a vehicle - hence the name, 'Dutch Reach.'
> The latest addition of the Highway Code and the legal enforcement of new rules, comes into force on Saturday 29 January.
> https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/new-highway-code-rule-fine-22818984?fbclid=IwAR17nj6VG-veMdcjz2e5I5FJhv0lz9rLDf0MFc-Z2Y9i8aVEBqpCBzjr7wA

What a load of absolute B******S.

The law says that one must not open the door of a vehicle so as to
endanger another road-user (especially, I suggest, pedestrians passing
on a narrow footway). It has said that for a long time.

The law is silent on the question of which hand one should use to open
the door, as it well should be. The quoted report (which popping up in
all sorts of places online) is a load of old tosh designed to misinform
and mislead those too stupid to think and reason (fairy-cyclists, etc).

For anyone who doubts that, think about this (only if you find that
possible): which hand does the law say a one-armed driver must use to
open the driver's (offside) door? The one he has or the one he doesn't have?

Please give a clear answer and illustrate it (if you can "think" of one)
with a citation of the relevant and applicable Statute section,
subsection or Regulation.