Should New Hampshire add instruction on the “Dutch Reach” to its drivers manual?

The so-called “Dutch Reach” is a method of opening a parked car door that is intended to keep cyclists safe from getting hit by doors that drivers open unexpectedly.

The technique involves using the right hand instead of the left to pull the latch to open the car door. This action requires a turning of the body enough to see an oncoming cyclist either in the sideview mirror or by peripheral vision.

This method is used in the Netherlands. It is taught in driver education there and is required as part of passing the driving exam. It has reduced cases of cyclists who are “doored” - ramming into the door or swerving to avoid the door, risking injury and, in some cases, death.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced that the Registry of Motor Vehicles has added the “Dutch Reach” safety procedure to its latest driver’s manual. Officials said the Dutch Reach is not a law or a requirement, but merely a suggestion to promote safety.

There is no current effort to officially introduce the “Dutch Reach” in New Hampshire.

Proponents cite the incidents - and potential seriousness - of cyclists who are doored. In Boston, police responded to 202 dooring incidents between 2009 and 2012, according to state transportation officials.

Opponents say it is the responsibility of the bicyclist to use the necessary caution and reduced speed when traveling in the vicinity of parked cars, particularly in congested areas.

Should the “Dutch Reach” be included in the New Hampshire driver’s manual? Let us know in the comments section below.