Dutch reach

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

The term was coined by an American physician in 2016[1] for the purpose of promoting the far hand reach method to prevent dooring. The Dutch language has no name for the maneuver,[2] and the Dutch historically referred to it simply as “the way one opens the car door.” The first known description of the method appeared in 1961 in a Dutch newspaper.[3]

Noun[edit]

the Dutch reach

  1. A technique for opening a motor vehicle door to avoid striking (“dooring”) passing cyclists or other road users by reaching across the body for the door latch with the more distant hand.
    • 2018 October 17, Gwyn Topham, “Highway Code to promote ‘Dutch reach’ to protect cyclists”, in The Guardian[4]:
      It is proposed that the code will highlight the Dutch reach, a method of opening car doors by turning and using the hand furthest from the handle, which forces drivers or passengers to look behind them for passing cyclists.

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Steve Annear (2016 September 8) “To avoid ‘doorings,’ cyclist wants drivers to do the ‘Dutch Reach’”, in Boston Globe[1]
  2. ^ Tanya Mohn (2018 October 5) “The Dutch Reach: A No-Tech Way to Save Bicyclists’ Lives”, in The New York Times[2], →ISSN
  3. ^ “Hoe stapt u uit een auto? [How do you get out of a car?]”, in De Telegraaf[3] (in Dutch), 1961 August 19

Further reading[edit]