What should you do if a parked car door opens into your path?

What should you do if a parked car door opens into your path?

• A. Swerve into the lane of traffic.
• B. Wave at the driver.
• C. Stop immediately in the path of the door.
• D. Steer away from the opening door and maintain a safe distance.

Answer: (D)

When a parked car door opens into your path, the priority is to avoid the sudden obstacle and keep your speed and lane position under control. The safest move is to steer away from the opening door and maintain a safe distance, because this creates the most room to avoid contact with the door and gives you time to react to any movement from the car or other drivers. Steering away rather than toward traffic reduces the chance of a collision with the door or with other vehicles that might not anticipate a rider swerving. Stopping directly in the door’s path or trying to wave the driver across doesn’t remove the hazard and can put you at risk of rear-end impact or a sudden stop in a vulnerable position. Quick, smooth steering away from the door while maintaining a safe margin lets you pass the hazard with less risk.

When a parked car door opens into your path, the priority is to avoid the sudden obstacle and keep your speed and lane position under control. The safest move is to steer away from the opening door and maintain a safe distance, because this creates the most room to avoid contact with the door and gives you time to react to any movement from the car or other drivers.

Steering away rather than toward traffic reduces the chance of a collision with the door or with other vehicles that might not anticipate a rider swerving. Stopping directly in the door’s path or trying to wave the driver across doesn’t remove the hazard and can put you at risk of rear-end impact or a sudden stop in a vulnerable position. Quick, smooth steering away from the door while maintaining a safe margin lets you pass the hazard with less risk.