Most of us open our car doors without a second thought. It’s an automatic gesture—park, unbuckle, grab the handle, push. But behind that ordinary motion hides a danger that injures thousands every year. Cyclists, scooter riders, and even passing drivers can be hit in an instant by what’s called a “dooring accident”—when a car door suddenly swings open in their path. The irony is that most of these accidents aren’t caused by recklessness, but by habit. And as one police officer once told me, “It all comes down to which hand you use.” That’s when I first heard of the safety rule now recognized around the world: always open your car door with your right hand.
