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I'm always using the Dutch Mirror which is that shiny reflective thing attached to the driver's door which I cleverly abuse to see if something is coming from b

by dep_b 8y ago

I'm always using the Dutch Mirror which is that shiny reflective thing attached to the driver's door which I cleverly abuse to see if something is coming from behind before I get out of the car. I've been testing it a lot in The Netherlands. Nobody died so far so it must work but YMMV. -- edit: I have a Dutch driver's license and definitely would've known about it.

k__ 8y ago
In Germany you have to do a look over your left shoulder, because that mirror isn't enough to see when bikes/vehicles are left of you.
- dep_b 8y ago
  It doesn't harm but just watching at all really helps. I usually wait a few seconds before opening the door. Actually more concerned about other cars driving off my door, Dutch streets tend to be more narrow to begin with.
- Kim_Bruning 8y ago
  Was in germany today on the autobahn as a "Nur Links" driver. (ok, and maybe a bit of rechts, but I have to keep up the reputation, right?) ... It definitely pays to keep an eye on the left mirror and shoulder. Even at 200 km/h, it's almost guaranteed that there will be someone lurking there going MUCH faster than you.
mattlondon 8y ago
You need to also check the "blind spot" (1) which is big enough to lose a truck in let alone a cyclist. 1 - https://duckduckgo.com/?q=car+blind+spots&t=brave&ia=images&iax=images https://duckduckgo.com/?q=car+blind+spots&t=brave&ia=images&...
- CharlesW 8y ago
  Years ago I started using this technique to set up my mirrors to minimize that. Highly recommended. [Single-page PDF] https://www.cartalk.com/sites/default/files/features/mirrors/CarTalkMirrors.pdf https://www.cartalk.com/sites/default/files/features/mirrors...
- Symbiote 8y ago
  Is this novel enough that you felt you needed to give a link?!?! It was literally the first thing my driving instructor spoke about, after I'd got in the driver's seat, and something the examiner was particularly careful to ensure was being checked.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- rocqua 8y ago
  Less needed when relative speeds are high, because with high relative speeds you don't remain in the blind spot for long.
driminicus 8y ago
I'm Dutch and I basically never use the so called Dutch reach, I use my mirror and look over my shoulder before opening the door. I never doored a cyclist and have no reason to assume I ever will.

by dep_b 8y ago

k__ 8y ago

In Germany you have to do a look over your left shoulder, because that mirror isn't enough to see when bikes/vehicles are left of you.

dep_b 8y ago
It doesn't harm but just watching at all really helps. I usually wait a few seconds before opening the door. Actually more concerned about other cars driving off my door, Dutch streets tend to be more narrow to begin with.
Kim_Bruning 8y ago
Was in germany today on the autobahn as a "Nur Links" driver. (ok, and maybe a bit of rechts, but I have to keep up the reputation, right?) ... It definitely pays to keep an eye on the left mirror and shoulder. Even at 200 km/h, it's almost guaranteed that there will be someone lurking there going MUCH faster than you.

mattlondon 8y ago

You need to also check the "blind spot" (1) which is big enough to lose a truck in let alone a cyclist. 1 - https://duckduckgo.com/?q=car+blind+spots&t=brave&ia=images&iax=images https://duckduckgo.com/?q=car+blind+spots&t=brave&ia=images&...

CharlesW 8y ago
Years ago I started using this technique to set up my mirrors to minimize that. Highly recommended. [Single-page PDF] https://www.cartalk.com/sites/default/files/features/mirrors/CarTalkMirrors.pdf https://www.cartalk.com/sites/default/files/features/mirrors...
Symbiote 8y ago
Is this novel enough that you felt you needed to give a link?!?! It was literally the first thing my driving instructor spoke about, after I'd got in the driver's seat, and something the examiner was particularly careful to ensure was being checked.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
rocqua 8y ago
Less needed when relative speeds are high, because with high relative speeds you don't remain in the blind spot for long.

driminicus 8y ago

I'm Dutch and I basically never use the so called Dutch reach, I use my mirror and look over my shoulder before opening the door. I never doored a cyclist and have no reason to assume I ever will.