EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to require the Ministry to ensure that the Dutch reach method is explained in driver education handbooks or other written material prepared or endorsed by the Ministry and is taught in driver education courses that are approved or licensed by the Ministry.  Knowledge of the Dutch reach method shall also be tested as part of the written portion of a driver’s examination for a driver’s licence, where appropriate.  The Dutch reach method is a method of opening a vehicle door used by a person in the vehicle to exit the vehicle in order to reduce the risk of injuring a bicyclist approaching the vehicle from behind.

Bill 115 2022

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to ensure the Dutch reach method is included in driver education programs

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 Section 165 of the Highway Traffic Act is amended by adding the following subsections:

Dutch reach method

(3)  The Ministry shall ensure that the Dutch reach method of opening the door of a vehicle that is parallel parked on a highway,

  (a)  is recommended as a preferred way of opening the door to exit the vehicle in any official driver’s handbook, instruction manual or study guide to safe driving prepared or endorsed by the Ministry;

  (b)  is taught as a preferred way of opening the door to exit the vehicle in any in-vehicle driving instruction course or classroom driver education program approved or licensed by the Ministry; and

  (c)  is a subject that shall be included by the Ministry on the written portion of an examination for a driver’s licence, where appropriate, as part of a series of questions intended to test the applicant’s knowledge relating to safe driving in the presence of bicyclists.

Definition, Dutch reach method

(4)  In subsection (3),

“Dutch reach method” means, with respect to a vehicle that is parallel parked on a highway, a method of opening a door to the vehicle that is used by a person inside the vehicle to exit the vehicle in order to reduce the risk of injuring a bicyclist approaching the vehicle from behind and that consists of the following steps, or a variation of the following steps:

   1.  The person checks the rear-view mirror and the side-view mirror for oncoming traffic.

   2.  The person uses his or her hand that is the farthest from the door and reaches across his or her body to place the hand on the door handle.

   3.  The person opens the door sufficiently to look in the direction of the oncoming traffic and check one more time for oncoming traffic.

   4.  The person opens the door completely and exits the vehicle.

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Teach the Reach Act, 2022.