Charity Cycling UK recently launched a campaign to raise awareness of dooring after discovering that many people don’t know what it is. Dooring is when a driver or passenger opens the door into another road user—typically cyclist—without looking for other road users.
Cycling UK 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 carelessly, and people to be encouraged to look before they open.”
The charity says 2,009 of the 3,000 injuries were sustained by cyclists, resulting in five fatalities but says this might not be the full extent of the danger.
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 car occupants, not just drivers, to look before opening vehicle doors. One of the ways the charity suggests 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 harsher laws and advice on safer road positioning for people who cycle.
Mr. Tuohy said: “In the Netherlands they are known for practicing 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 highlight 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 in the car.
1. Why does the author mention the figures in Paragraph 3?| A．To cause public concern. |
| B．To report the terrible accidents. |
| C．To show the danger of car dooring. |
| D．To stress the importance of traffic safety. |
| A．sit still in your seat |
| B．open the car door politely |
| C．use the inside hand to open the door |
| D．use the left hand to open the car door |
| A．Many people are ignorant of car dooring. |
| B．The “Dutch reach” is well received in England. |
| C．Dooring incidents are all attended by police. |
| D．Drivers are to blame for dooring incidents. |
| A．Negative. | B．Ridiculous. |
| C．Neutral. | D．Concerned |
