Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to reform the driving test to highlight the risks of harm to cyclists and motorbike riders of people opening car doors without looking to see who is approaching from behind.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) includes “Checking for oncoming cyclists, pedestrians and other traffic before opening the car door” as part of its National Standards for driving.

In addition, DVSA covers the safe method of opening car doors in the Instructional Ability element of its Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) qualification process. This ensures that ADIs teach this method to novice drivers.