KraneXL

This video started me thinking. With all the advancing technology and safety going into cars these days, how come some type of door lock or warning mechanism hasn't yet been installed to prevent accidents like these from happening? I would think I'd have a huge impact on lowering insurance premiums? Not to mention cyclist would certainly appreciate it.





Caution: graphic content

dabac

CliffordK

Or, simply an auto opening door that would open in say 3 seconds, and avoid slamming into stuff. So, an astute cyclist can adjust course when they see the door cracking.

Daniel4

Car manufacturers make safety features for the occupants only. They couldn't care less about anybody else unless it causes some sort of damage to the car.

jon c. 

It would have a huge impact on premiums only if insurance companies are currently paying large settlements on a lot of such accidents. I have no reason to believe this is true.

Cyclist0108

This is not true.

The sensors in my Toyota alert me to passing pedestrians and cyclists all the time. I like to think I am vigilant and cautious, but it has saved me (and them) a close call more than once.

tyrion

A much less expensive step would be to mandate that drivers open their car door with their right hand - this forces the driver to turn their body slightly and have more awareness of things coming up alongside. Teach this in driver ed, make it part of driver's license tests, and ticket those that don't do it.

They do this is some countries. I wish bicycle advocates would push this in the USA. (It would require state laws in USA - each state would need it's own advocacy campaign, but their could be a nationwide coordinating body to give advice to local campaigns.)

alcjphil

Hyundai already has a system that detects oncoming vehicles and disables the rear door latch handles until the vehicle has passed

CliffordK

The reality is that most car drivers/occupants really don't want to hurt others. Hurting others both becomes an emotional burden, as well as potentially huge liability issue.

Thus, things like backup sensors and cross-traffic sensors (which can detect pedestrians).

It wouldn't take much to put in a bike lane sensor interfaced with doors. Not that one can't generally safely open a door into bicycle traffic... just make cyclists aware of the upcoming danger.

Good sensors and cameras could also prevent a person from stepping into traffic. No sense in getting the door ripped off by a passing bus, unless it is time to upgrade the car.

Paul Barnard

There were some painfully idiotic cyclists in that video.

fietsbob

Driving, you Practice what is called the "Dutch Twist"...

you open the door with the hand furthest from the door.
Left hand drive, your Right, & Right hand drive, use your Left hand.

and in doing so you are twisting your body around to see behind you..

vol

Before a solution is found, just don't ride too fast in a door zone, and always anticipate a door opening before you. At least that minimizes the potential injuries.

KraneXL

Even at a leisurely pace you can't keep up that level of alertness all the time -- there's just too many cars to scan everyone -- because you have to look our for other hazards. Besides, you can't see into half the cars or any large trucks. It would also make cycling an very unenjoyable activity.

I try to avoid those narrow car-on-the-street roads in the first place, but doing so is limited and can take you miles away from your intended route. I like the exterior warning idea, but some people just fling the door out without the slightest care as to what may be coming up next to them.

That guy on the freeway almost hit the first motor bike and still didn't check. Worst part, he wasn't even apologetic, which goes to show some folks just don't care if others get hurt by their actions.

SylvainG

Don't want to know what happened after 3:45...

79pmooney

Ah, having your car door hit means a new door and front fender panel virtually always, even when hit by just a 20# bicycle. (Usually the door cannot be closed.) And almost everywhere, the owner of the car is liable. Cyclist is usually tossed into the middle of the lane. If he is hit, the liability will be on the owner of the opening door, not the overtaking vehicle. So at least the car owner has a lot to lose.

I have witnessed three doorings, two on me and one by a car right in front of my office window while I was looking. (That drivers was very lucky not to get hurt. The door was tossed like a wet noodle hit by a baseball bat.)

Ben

Hoopdriver

Better yet: Just don't ride in the door zone. Doorings are thus easily preventable.

I-Like-To-Bike

Sure, just always ride in the regular traffic lane, regardless of the traffic density or speed of the surrounding traffic, without a care in the world because now the cyclist is protected from parked car doorings.

What other considerations could there be; what could possibly go wrong?

BobbyG

I just saw a TV commercial for it, shortly after reading this post.

jon c. 

In my urban riding, the higher traffic streets with on street parking have sharrows directing cyclists to ride in the traffic lane. Because that's the correct spot for a vehicle on such roads. Works quite well in my experience. Yes, the cars behind have to go a bit slower than they otherwise would, but that's life in the city.

rgconner

The solution for this problem was first available in 1954:

Hoopdriver

There are many hazards that we encounter while cycling. That means that we must continually scan for and react to them in a way that minimizes risk. To ignore the very significant hazard presented by dooring because of other hazards, as you seem to be advocating, is imprudent. If these other hazards are so treacherous that you must ride in the door zone, perhaps you should select a different route.

I never, ever ride in the door zone and once or twice a year this pays off.

79pmooney

Solution? If it was opening when you hit it, it might decapitate you. Far better were those French cars with doors that had teh hinges in the back so you just get a glancing blow, slamming the door shut.

Ben

rgconner

If that decapitated you, you were riding WAY too close to it!

And rear hinged doors are called "Suicide doors".

79pmooney

Suicide doors, yes, but they didn't kill others. And the drivers who didn't learn to look stopped being an issue for us.

adablduya

in each of the instances in the video, the cyclist is the problem. sure, legally, the one opening the door may be culpable, but that doesn't do the cyclist any good when he's flopping on the deck like a fish on the beach. my point is, avoiding the door zone is on the cyclist. it is an obvious and completely avoidable hazard. we don't need cars with built-in crap to take care of the hazard. all it takes is for cyclists to be situationally aware.