After the uproar caused by the death of an actress who was hit by a suddenly open door while riding a bike, the German government proposes mandatory sensors and alarm systems in cars to protect cyclists. The German government wants to better protect cyclists and electric scooter users from accidents caused by suddenly opening car doors.
“To prevent these accidents, the federal government plans to implement mandatory assistance systems, such as door opening alerts,” a spokeswoman for German Transport Minister Patrick Schneider said, according to Thursday’s (04/12) edition of the Rheinische Post newspaper. She said cyclists are particularly at high risk “when cycling near parked vehicles.”
Accidents caused by suddenly opening the car doors are also called “doors”. “The term is derived from the English word ‘door’ and describes a situation in which a car door suddenly opens to approaching cyclists,” explains the Association of German Cyclists (ADFC, with its German abbreviation). “Cyclists have no other choice but to swerve sharply or brake hard.”
Serious accidents
Door open accidents often result in serious injuries, for example, if an evasive maneuver results in a collision with another vehicle. However, according to ADFC, there is no specific category for registering with the police. Therefore, there are no reliable statistics on the frequency of these incidents.
One case that has recently attracted attention in Germany is that of actress Wanda Berdelowitz, known for her roles in several television series in Germany. She died in October at the age of 41 after having a door accident at the end of September while cycling in Hamburg. The car driver had also stopped in a prohibited place, when one of the car’s passengers suddenly opened the door, which led to him colliding with the actress, who was rescued, but later died in the hospital.
In an interview with the Rheinische Post newspaper, ADFC welcomed the German Transport Ministry’s plan. Caroline Ludemann, policy director at the Asian Football Confederation, told the newspaper that the club has been demanding for years “that cars be equipped with an open door alarm system and an automatic locking system.”
In the Netherlands, to avoid this type of accident, driving school teachers teach their students how to open the car with the hand furthest from the door – the right, in the case of the driver. This maneuver, known internationally as the “Dutch Reach,” forces the car occupant to turn his trunk and look for an approaching vehicle, before opening the door.
How do door control systems work?
Door open warning systems are already sold in Germany, and some car models already come with the product from the factory.
Some simpler equipment consists of motion sensors mounted above the side mirror or rear bumper. When outside movement is detected and an imminent door opening is detected, the systems issue audio or visual alerts to the driver.
Other, more complex systems include sensors, but also have the ability to electronically lock the door to avoid a collision.
M (AFP, EPA)