Why You Should Always Use Your Right Hand to Open Your Car Door
Rewritten Version (same context, new text)
Most of us step out of our cars on autopilot. It’s a small everyday motion we barely register. Yet many serious collisions happen not because someone was driving recklessly — but simply because of how a car door was opened.
A close friend of mine who works in law enforcement once shared a piece of advice that has stuck with me ever since. It’s so practical and so effective that road safety experts around the globe now promote it. The guidance is simple: only open your car door with your right hand.
It sounds oddly specific at first, maybe even unnecessary. Why would it matter which hand you use? But the logic behind it is entirely rooted in safety — and once you understand it, you’ll wonder how you ever opened your door any other way.
The Hidden Risk of Opening the Door Automatically
When you’re sitting in the driver’s seat, your left hand naturally rests closest to the door handle. It feels effortless to grab it with your left hand, pull, and push the door out.
The problem? Using your left hand usually means your body stays facing forward. You don’t turn. You don’t check blind spots. You simply swing the door open without thinking.
And that’s exactly when danger strikes.
Cyclists, scooter riders, motorcyclists, even passing cars — all can be hit by a suddenly opened door. This is known as a “dooring accident,” and these collisions cause far more injuries than many people realize, especially in busy cities with heavy bike traffic.
Introducing the Life-Saving Dutch Reach
The technique my officer friend shared has a formal name: the Dutch Reach.
Instead of opening the door with the hand that’s closest, you intentionally reach across with your right hand.
This small shift triggers a chain reaction:
- Your body rotates
- Your shoulders turn
- Your head naturally looks back and toward the mirror
In other words, it forces a built-in safety check.
With one simple motion, you automatically scan for oncoming cyclists or vehicles long before the door cracks open.
A Worldwide Safety Standard
The Dutch Reach isn’t just a clever hack — it’s been a foundational safety practice in the Netherlands for years, where cycling culture is deeply ingrained. It’s even reported to be part of their standard driving test.
Because of its effectiveness, the technique has since been endorsed by road safety groups internationally and added to driving manuals in places like the U.S. and the U.K. It’s now recognized as one of the simplest and most reliable ways to prevent avoidable accidents.
Why This Matters to Everyone
Even if you never ride a bicycle, the way you open your door affects everyone around you.
Our streets are changing. More people are cycling, riding e-scooters, and using alternative forms of transportation. The roads are more crowded than ever before, and every vehicle door represents a potential hazard.
It takes just one distracted moment to seriously injure someone. But switching hands when opening your door dramatically lowers that risk.
And the best part? It becomes natural after just a few tries. Before long, you won’t even think about it — your body will simply twist, check, and open with caution.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’d never given my door-opening habit a second thought. But once I learned this technique, I changed immediately — and permanently.
From now on, it’s the right hand every time.
It’s such a small adjustment, but it can make a life-saving difference.
The next time you park, remember: reach with your right — protect what’s behind you.
