Dooring Accidents Resulted in Over 200 Injured Cyclists Last Year

Last year, 206 cyclists were injured in Austria in so-called dooring accidents. Opening car doors without first checking if a vehicle is coming can be life-threatening for two-wheeler riders, warned the Austrian Transport Club (VCÖ) in a press release on Friday. The occasion is the death of actress Wanda Perdelwitz in the German city of Hamburg due to such an accident at the end of September. She has now died in the hospital.

Dooring accidents mostly caused by car drivers

In 2024, there were no fatal dooring accidents in Austria. However, in the five-year period from 2020 to 2025, 1,110 cyclists were injured in 1,108 dooring accidents in Austria, and three people lost their lives, reported the VCÖ based on data from Statistics Austria. Last year, 74 percent of accidents between bicycles and cars in Austria were caused by car drivers. More space for safe cycling in cities would prevent such accidents.

VCÖ reminds of "Dutch Reach"

Additionally, the VCÖ reminded that one must ensure that no one is endangered before opening the car door. "Therefore, look in the rearview mirror and over the shoulder before opening. The so-called Dutch Reach is helpful, where the left car door is opened with the right hand. This automatically makes you look to the left and see if a bicycle, scooter, moped, or motorcycle is approaching," explained VCÖ expert Katharina Jaschinsky.

(APA/Red)

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