This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Measures to protect cyclists are to be introduced in the Highway Code, including a new recommendation on how to get out of a vehicle without “dooring” a passing rider.

The government announced a review of the code to help reduce road casualties and promote walking and cycling.

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.

The dangers of dooring were vividly highlighted by the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, in 2016 when he was filmed knocking over a cyclist while alighting from a car in Whitehall.

The cycling and walking minister, Jesse Norman, said: “Britain has some of the safest roads in the world but we need them to be safer still for all – and particularly for cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

“Cycling and walking are increasingly being understood as crucial parts of an integrated approach to issues of health, obesity, air quality and town and city planning. But this will only happen if people feel safe on the roads.”

Road casualty figures published last month showed that 101 cyclists died in collisions in Britain in 2017.

Duncan Dollimore, of Cycling UK, said: “Close overtakes and people opening car doors in front of cyclists are not only dangerous, they also put people off riding a bike.

“We’re delighted the government has listened and we hope to contribute to the discussions regarding the amendments required to prioritise the safety of cyclists and other vulnerable road users.”

Joe Irvin, the chief executive of Living Streets, said: “People walking and cycling do not cause road danger, congestion or toxic air levels, and yet they’re the ones who too often pay the price on our roads. Last year there was a 5% rise in pedestrian fatalities. This cannot continue.”

The RAC’s head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said there should be no “us versus them” narrative in safety, and around 20% of car drivers were also regular cyclists.

“We support the introduction of the Dutch reach principle to the Highway Code, a small change every motorist can make when exiting their vehicle that can make a huge difference to the safety of passing cyclists,” he said.

Highways England has announced a £3m contract with Sustrans to improve the National Cycle Network.