The Best Ideas to Avoid Dooring Collisions
Not all car-bicycle crashes occur when a motorist is driving. Bicyclists can be severely injured even when a car is parked. How is this possible?
When a driver or passenger opens a car door without first checking for oncoming traffic, "doorings" can occur. For bicyclists, they come with little warning and almost no time to react. Dooring collisions can also be fatal, especially when bicyclists travel at high speeds.
Preventing doorings with bicyclists is the responsibility of drivers and car passengers, and it involves a few simple steps.
Prevent doorings with this proven method
According to an article in Venture Beat, a method dubbed the “Dutch Reach” can prevent these incidents from occurring. Drivers and passengers must use their far hand (often their left) to open the nearest car door.
This allows them to position their head and shoulders in a position where oncoming traffic is more visible. You can learn more about this method by visiting the Dutch Reach Project’s website.
The Dutch Reach is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, where the lowest rate of bicycle fatalities in the world occur. The method was later acquired by the U.K. Department for Transport’s official road-user rulebook and many American driver’s education courses.
Adopted by Uber
Now, ride-share giant Uber has adopted the Dutch Reach and is taking a new approach to bicycle safety in solidarity with bicyclist advocates PeopleForBikes. In addition, Uber will add a new feature in its app that alerts drivers of bicycle lanes and identifies shared roads in cities.
For example, in some places, Uber users may receive notifications alerting them of bicycle lanes or bike routes at their drop-off locations. These notifications are intended to raise awareness of oncoming bicycle traffic before a passenger exits an Uber car.
“As the experts say, increasing awareness of safe behavior increases safety," said Kristin Smith, Uber's road safety product manager. "Along with the in-app notifications to riders, we will also remind drivers it’s illegal to stop in a bike lane in most cities and encourage them to safely coordinate pickups and drop-offs away from bike lanes.”
The attorneys at Twenge + Twombley Law Firm applaud the initiative taken by Uber and encourage all drivers and passengers to do the same.
If you or a loved one was injured in a bicycle crash, don’t hesitate to contact us online to set up a free case evaluation. We advocate for injured bicyclists in greater Beaufort and Hilton Head, South Carolina.