Going Dutch

Nanny state gone mad.

According to the Evening Standard, ‘Under changes to the Highway Code, the new section under rule 239 will now read: “Where you are able to do so, you should open the door using your hand on the opposite side to the door you are opening; for example, use your left hand to open a door on your right-hand side. The rule will see drivers fined £1,000 if they open the door with the wrong hand, as the Highway Code is updated’.

Will you be able to get a medical exemption?

The Highway Code isn’t law anyway.  In order to introduce a legally enforceable fine won’t it need some change to the RTA?

Will probably fall under the construction and use bit “No person shall open, or cause or permit to be opened, any door of a vehicle on a road so as to injure or endanger any person” which is already an offence. If proven, it would be an aggravating factor but without an admission or police witness seems highly unlikely to ever be enforced.

That’s the problem though Risky, not sure it does. I often open my door with the opposite hand (if I’ve got something in my right hand for example) and never had it made me twist in my seat.