Charity Cycling UK has recently launched a campaign to raise awareness of dooring after discovering that many people don't know what it is and those that do seem to think it's a joke. Dooring happens when a driver or passenger opens the door into another road user - typically a cyclist - without looking for other road users.
Cycling UK's chief executive Paul Tuohy told Gloucestershire Live, "Some people seem to see car dooring as a bit of a joke, but it's not and can have serious consequences. Cycling UK wants to see great awareness made about the dangers of opening your car door, and people to be encouraged to look before they open."
The charity says 2,009 of the 3,000 injuries were sustained(遭受) by cyclists, resulting in five deaths but says this might not be the full extent of the dangers.
Cycling UK says not all car dooring incidents will be attended by police, so the charity has written to transport minister Jesse Norman calling for a public awareness campaign urging all drivers to look before opening vehicle doors. One of the ways that the charity suggests could prevent injuries through dooring is the "Dutch Reach", where people leaving a vehicle reach over and use the non-door side hand to open the door.
Cycling UK also suggests serious laws and advice on safer road positioning for people who cycle.
Mr Tuohy said, "In the Netherlands they are known for practising a method, known sometimes as the 'Dutch Reach', which we think could be successfully encouraged in the UK."
"Cycling UK has written to the Department for Transport asking them to look into this, and stress the dangers of 'car dooring' through a public awareness THINK style campaign."
If you're really concerned about opening a door into the path of a cyclist coming behind you, consider using what's known as the "Dutch Reach" to open the door. That will naturally turn you in your seat and give you a much better view of what's coming up alongside the car.
