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Comment by dep_b | Hacker News Reader

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.

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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&...

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...

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.

Less needed when relative speeds are high, because with high relative speeds you don't remain in the blind spot for long.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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