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The Sun still hasn’t got to grips with the Dutch ReachDutch Reach

The Sun still hasn’t got to grips with the Dutch Reach

Doored motorcyclist who ended up in coma optimistically tried to promote door opening method via UK’s biggest-selling newspaper
by Alex Bowden
Sat, Dec 01, 2018 16:03
10

Unless you write for the Sun, the Dutch Reach method of opening car doors is not a difficult one to understand.

First, a recap. When exiting a vehicle, the Dutch Reach involves opening your car door with your opposite hand. It is taught to learner drivers in the Netherlands because doing so twists your upper body so that you can’t help but look behind you as you open the door. That reduces the chances that you will door a passing cyclist. (Using your opposite hand also restricts how far the door can open.)

If that’s not a clear description, here’s a video.

It is, in short, a very simple way to not kill people. As such, Transport minister Jesse Norman recently confirmed that the government plans to revise the Highway Code to encourage the Dutch Reach, while earlier this month Transport for Greater Manchester urged people to adopt the method as part of its ‘Bike Smart’ initiative.

Meanwhile, in the Sun, they’re busy telling people that the Dutch Reach “involves motorists winding down the window and opening the door from the outside using their left hand.”

No, it doesn’t.

That description came in an article about a motorcyclist, Ryan Selby, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and fractures to his back, pelvis and arm after being doored.

Selby, quite understandably, wants to promote the method. This would probably be easier to do if people described it halfway accurately.

You could argue that it’s just an inaccuracy, but it seems a little worse than that when you consider that the newspaper’s previously branded the method ‘absurd’ and devoted an entire article to ridiculing it.

That article saw fit to quote retired agricultural specialist Frank Porter, who said: “Who are the police or council to try and change the way we have opened doors since cars were invented? Cyclists already dictate how we have to behave on the roads. This is a step too far. You won’t see me doing it, that’s for sure.”

The Sun
Dutch Reach
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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10 comments

Avatar
Rapha Nadal | 5 years ago
1 like

In all fairness their interpretation of it doesn't sound at all bad!  Don't just look over your shoulder, open the window and do it!  You can't go wrong.

Avatar
Legin | 5 years ago
0 likes

It's got "Dutch" in it ; therefore EU; what else do you expect from those Brexiteering w**kers?

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Legin | 5 years ago
0 likes

It's got "Dutch" in it ; therefore EU; what else do you expect from those Brexiteering w**kers?

Avatar
Spangly Shiny | 5 years ago
3 likes

I really must try harder to get into this habit. I nearly doored a poor guy in Sheffield last week, only his shout and quick weave saved the day for him.

I do not know whether he heard my apology at the time so I do it here and now, "Sorry Mate I Was Being An Arsehole."

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 5 years ago
0 likes

So I googled "The Sun dutch reach" and found the referenced 2017 story, stupid though it is, it was clearly intended as a mockery.

However a more recent Oct 2018 article covers the method correctly and points out the benefits.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/motors/7524991/dutch-rea...

Avatar
brooksby | 5 years ago
2 likes

Quote:

Meanwhile, in the Sun, they’re busy telling people that the Dutch Reach “involves motorists winding down the window and opening the door from the outside using their left hand.”

Erm, so they think it can only be used by contortionists? No wonder they're opposed..,

Avatar
burtthebike | 5 years ago
8 likes

Reminds me of when Jasper Carrot got fed up with receiving letters from people in groups he'd criticised, so decided to attack the Sun as the readers wouldn't be able to write back.

"That article saw fit to quote retired agricultural specialist Frank Porter, who said: “Who are the police or council to try and change the way we have opened doors since cars were invented? Cyclists already dictate how we have to behave on the roads."

If only!  Perhaps Mr Porter might be better employed adding to his compost heap physically rather than verbally.  If we dictated how drivers behaved on the roads most of them wouldn't be there.

 

Avatar
handlebarcam | 5 years ago
5 likes

I'm shocked, shocked, to hear that an august publication such as The Sun, which counts the inventor of the bendy bananas euromyth Boris Johnson amongst its columists, would publish something provably false. All to whip up its readers into froth about something which costs them nothing and could save lives (but does imply a responsibility for others which runs contrary to a century of car culture, and the paper's political stance.)

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Yorkshire wallet | 5 years ago
7 likes

Too busy giving each other dutch reach arounds.

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cidermart | 5 years ago
16 likes

To be fair it's hard to master a keyboard when you spend your time dragging your knuckles across the floor.

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