“Dutch clutch” in the car: This trick saves cyclists

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Searching for parking in cities like Zurich can be frustrating. The clock is ticking, the deadline is approaching, and when a parking space is finally found, everything needs to move quickly: line up, park, pack up your belongings and hit the road. But then: noise! The cyclist running behind has no chance and crashes head-on into the suddenly opened car door. Unfortunately, such situations are not uncommon. Since many bike paths in cities often pass in front of parked cars, cyclists cannot expect a car door to suddenly open at any moment.

But if an accident like the one described above occurs – known in technical parlance as a “door closeout” – the cyclist’s journey usually ends in the hospital. The sharp edges of car doors are usually right at head level. Either the biker shoots directly or flies in a high arc over the open door. Some of the 819 cyclists seriously injured on Swiss roads last year were likely caused by such accidents (also interesting: E-bikes really are that dangerous).

Automatic shoulder glance

Such crashes can be prevented quite easily. This trick is called the “Dutch hold.” The occupants of the vehicle, whether the driver, the front passenger or the person sitting in the backseat, open the car door with their other hand, not with the hand closest to the door. So the person behind the steering wheel opens the door with his right hand. When you cross your arms, your upper body automatically turns to the left – so you automatically look behind your shoulder, which is important in such situations, and you can tell if a bike, motorcycle or car is approaching.

Internationally proven

It is no coincidence that this number is called the Dutch number: in almost no other country in Europe is the density of bicycles as high as in the Netherlands. This is not required material for the driving test; but student drivers have been learning handling for decades on their way to qualifying to drive. And in other countries, such as Great Britain, Australia and some US states, the Dutch clutch has been officially included in learning materials in driving schools for several years.

However, some car manufacturers such as Audi, Land Rover or Mercedes also offer exit warning systems in some of their models, which warn passengers audibly and visually when getting out of the vehicle when a vehicle approaches from behind. But whether it is the technical system or the Dutch approach, the result is the same: serious accidents can be prevented.

Source: Blick