District of Columbia driving lesson · Sharing the Road
Vision Zero: pedestrians & bicyclists
A 3-minute lesson from the District of Columbia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Vision Zero is the District's goal of reducing traffic deaths to zero. Traffic deaths and serious injuries are preventable, and much of the work falls on drivers watching out for people walking and biking.
Vision Zero
A multinational road safety project, started in Sweden in 1997, whose core principle is that no one should be killed or seriously injured in road traffic.
"Drivers" include more than car drivers: bicycles, buses, motorcycles, light trucks, commercial vehicles, and essentially any vehicle that does not run on rails.
Any person traveling by foot, wheelchair or stroller, walking, running or jogging. Children are at greater risk because of their small size and inexperience with traffic.
The Dutch Reach forces your body to turn so you can see approaching bicyclists, and keeps the door from opening too fast. Bicyclists should ride at least three feet from parked cars to stay out of the "door zone."
You parallel park on a busy street with a bike lane. Before getting out, check the rear-view mirror, then the side mirror, then reach across with your right hand to open the driver's door. Turning your body lets you spot a cyclist coming up behind.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What is the 'Dutch Reach' method for opening a vehicle door?
Opening the door slowly with your near hand
Opening the door only after the engine is off
Checking only your side mirror first
Opening the door with your far hand
Answer: Opening the door with your far hand
The Dutch Reach uses your far hand, which turns your body so you naturally look for approaching cyclists.
