Opening a car door seems like second nature—something done without a thought. Yet many serious accidents occur not while driving, but when someone exits a parked vehicle. Safety experts now encourage a simple habit known as the “far-hand reach” to reduce these incidents dramatically.

The method is straightforward: use the hand farthest from the door to open it. For drivers in the U.S., that means using the right hand to open the door on the left. This small adjustment makes a big difference. Reaching across your body naturally turns your torso, prompting you to look into the mirror and over your shoulder—helping you spot approaching cyclists, pedestrians, or cars before stepping out.

Organizations like the National Safety Council and Bike League of America advocate this technique to prevent “dooring” accidents, where a car door suddenly opens into a cyclist’s path. Such collisions cause thousands of injuries each year and are almost entirely avoidable.

The far-hand reach requires no tools or training—just mindfulness and repetition until it becomes instinct. It’s especially important in dense urban areas or bike-friendly cities where traffic and cyclists share narrow lanes.

Safety educators note that the technique not only protects cyclists but also drivers and passengers, who avoid legal and emotional fallout from preventable crashes. Turning your body as you exit also makes you more visible to others, further reducing risk.

In essence, the far-hand reach turns a simple, everyday action into a potentially life-saving habit. A single second of awareness can spare someone serious injury—and make the roads a little safer for everyone.