{"id":69522,"date":"2025-07-28T04:04:26","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T04:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/?p=69522"},"modified":"2025-07-28T04:04:26","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T04:04:26","slug":"i-just-learned-from","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/?p=69522","title":{"rendered":"I Just Learned from\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you drive a car or ride in one frequently, what I\u2019m about to share could actually save a life<\/em>. And I\u2019ll be honest \u2014 I had never heard of this before. It\u2019s such a small change in habit, but it makes a huge difference. My friend, who\u2019s a police officer, told me this during a casual conversation, and ever since then, I haven\u2019t opened a car door the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advice is simple: always open your car door with your RIGHT hand<\/strong> \u2014 not your left hand, even if you\u2019re the driver. Sounds weird at first, right? But there\u2019s a powerful reason behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s Called the \u201cDutch Reach\u201d \u2014 and It Could Prevent a Tragedy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This method is widely known in parts of Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, where it originated \u2014 hence the name, the Dutch Reach<\/strong>. The concept is simple: instead of using your left hand (as most drivers instinctively do in countries where you drive on the right side of the road), you use your right hand<\/strong> to open the car door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This forces your body to twist slightly<\/strong>, turning your shoulders \u2014 and in doing so, you automatically look over your left shoulder<\/strong> toward the street or bike lane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That small motion gives you a chance to see if a cyclist, pedestrian, scooter rider, or car<\/strong> is coming up next to you. Without it, you\u2019re far more likely to swing your door open blindly \u2014 a mistake that leads to thousands of accidents every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hidden Dangers of Doorings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the traffic safety world, there\u2019s a term for this kind of accident: dooring<\/strong>. It happens when someone in a parked car opens the door into the path of a cyclist or motorcyclist, causing a sudden crash. These crashes can lead to serious injuries<\/strong>, and in some cases, they are fatal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dooring is incredibly common in cities where biking is popular, and it often happens because the person in the car simply didn\u2019t check behind them<\/strong> before opening the door. We\u2019re so used to stepping out that we don\u2019t think twice \u2014 until it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My police officer friend told me that dooring accidents are among the most easily preventable<\/strong>, and yet they still happen every single day. And that\u2019s exactly why officers and road safety experts are pushing for awareness around the Dutch Reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Your Right Hand Makes All the Difference<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how it works, practically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n