Montréal, Thursday, January 1er September 2022 - Vélo Québec, in collaboration with the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), is launching a brand-new campaign today to raise motorists’ awareness of the importance of cycling.’emporiage a danger that unfortunately all too often goes unnoticed. In fact, in Quebec, cases of bicycle entrapment are under-represented because they are under-reported. Yet the act of opening a car door without first checking that the road is clear can cause serious damage, even death. With this in mind, and in order to minimize the risk of collisions with cyclists, Vélo Québec and the SAAQ would like to make motorists aware of « pivot opening », A quick and easy right-handed door opening maneuver that prevents the worst from happening!
It should be remembered that in Quebec, only the City of Montreal offers a record of the incidents of roadkill that are reported to the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). Since 2013, there have been no fewer than 1,127 cases, or 125 reported collisions per year, not counting those that go unreported.
«Opening a car door may seem like a harmless gesture, but it can result in serious injury or even death. Our thoughts today are with Suzanne Châtelain, Marc-André Fontaine, Bernard Carignan, Jean-Pierre Lefebvre and their families, who have to deal with the irreparable consequences of this act on a daily basis, and with the survivors, more or less seriously injured in car accidents. With this campaign, we hope to instill in Quebec drivers a new habit that will save lives. The simple gesture of opening the door with the right hand should become a new reflex for anyone who drives a car,» says Jean-François Rheault, President and CEO of Vélo Québec.
«Sharing the road between various users, especially between cyclists and drivers, is a priority for the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec. In fact, it is one of the six themes included in our Road Safety Prevention Strategy 2021-2025. Opening the door pivot is a simple gesture that can greatly contribute to the safety of cyclists and a more harmonious cohabitation of road users. So, in addition to joining Vélo Québec's awareness campaign, we confirm that this practice will be integrated into the Road Safety Education Program (PESR) by the end of 2022. We hope that this will make pivoting the door as natural and automatic for drivers as buckling up,» adds Denis Marsolais, President and CEO of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec.
The pivot opening: using the right hand!
Originating in the Netherlands, a country with an undisputed reputation for safe cycling, this gesture, also known as the «Dutch door», has proved its effectiveness. To do this, the motorist simply rotates and opens the door with the hand opposite the door (opening the left door with the right hand, and the right door with the left). This maneuver automatically widens the field of vision to include the blind spot and rear-view mirror, so you can see if someone on a bicycle is approaching the car.
To find out more about the campaign, visit : https://www.velo.qc.ca/ouverture-pivot
