The Simple Reason You Should Open Your Car Door With Your Right Hand

Most of us get out of our cars without thinking twice. It’s automatic—park, unbuckle, open the door, and move on with the day. But safety experts warn that this familiar habit is responsible for far more accidents than many people realize. In fact, one small change in how you open your car door could prevent serious injuries.

The advice comes from law enforcement officers and road-safety specialists around the world: drivers should always open their door with their right hand, not their left.

At first, it sounds almost too simple to matter. But once you understand why this method works, it becomes clear just how much it reduces risk—and why it’s quickly becoming an international safety standard.

Why the Everyday Door-Opening Habit Is Riskier Than You Think

When drivers use their left hand to open the door, the body barely turns. The door swings outward quickly, often without the driver checking for cyclists, e-scooter riders, pedestrians, or passing cars.

This is how “dooring accidents” happen—when a car door suddenly opens into the path of someone approaching from behind. These crashes are especially dangerous for cyclists and scooter riders, who may have no time to brake or avoid impact.

Dooring accidents aren’t rare. They happen in busy cities every day and can cause severe injuries. The problem isn’t bad driving—it’s a thoughtless moment.

The Dutch Reach: A Proven Technique That Saves Lives

The solution is a simple habit known as the Dutch Reach, a technique taught for decades in the Netherlands, a country where cycling is part of daily life.