Cycling Groups Call for Action on 'Car-dooring'

A national campaign to raise awareness of "car-dooring" is needed to save lives on Britain's roads, Cycling UK has said.

The campaign group says cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians are being needlessly killed and injured by drivers and passengers carelessly opening the doors of their vehicles.

Cycling UK is calling for the so-called 'Dutch reach' – which involves opening doors with the "wrong" hand – to be taught as part of the driving test.

Government figures reveal that from 2011-2015 eight people died from carelessly-opened car doors. In total 3,108 people were reported injured, but Cycling UK believes the actual figure may be much higher.

A government source suggested ministers might be unwilling to prescribe the manoeuvre but suggested that cycle safety groups might make more headway on this matter themselves.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport told BBC News:

"From 2012-2015, Think! worked in partnership with Transport for London to extend their cycle safety 'tips' to cyclists and motorists in other cities.

"This included the advice to 'Always check for cyclists when you open your car door'. In 2016, Think! launched a new cycle safety campaign targeting commuter cyclists and HGV drivers."

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