role="main" class="main-container container js-quickedit-main-content" id="main-content">

Bill 115, Teach the Reach Act, 2022

Stiles, Marit

Please select

View bill

Status

Debates

Acts affected

Original

Bill 115 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to require the

Ministry to ensure that the Dutch reach method is explained in driver education

handbooks or other written material prepared or endorsed by the Ministry and is

taught in driver education courses that are approved or licensed by the Ministry.

Knowledge of the Dutch reach method shall also be tested as part of the written

portion of a driver’s examination for a driver’s licence, where appropriate.

The Dutch reach method is a method of opening a vehicle door used by a person

in the vehicle to exit the vehicle in order to reduce the risk of injuring a

bicyclist approaching the vehicle from behind.

Bill 115 2022

Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to ensure the Dutch reach method is

included in driver education programs

Her

Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the

Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Section 165 of the Highway Traffic Act is amended

by adding the following subsections:

Dutch

reach method

(3) The

Ministry shall ensure that the Dutch reach method of opening the door of a

vehicle that is parallel parked on a highway,

(

a) is

recommended as a preferred way of opening the door to exit the vehicle in any

official driver’s handbook, instruction manual or study guide to safe driving

prepared or endorsed by the Ministry;

(

b) is

taught as a preferred way of opening the door to exit the vehicle in any

in-vehicle driving instruction course or classroom driver education program

approved or licensed by the Ministry; and

(

c) is

a subject that shall be included by the Ministry on the written portion of an

examination for a driver’s licence, where appropriate, as part of a series of

questions intended to test the applicant’s knowledge relating to safe driving

in the presence of bicyclists.

Definition,

Dutch reach method

(4) In

subsection (3),

“Dutch

reach method” means, with respect to a vehicle that is parallel parked on a

highway, a method of opening a door to the vehicle that is used by a person inside

the vehicle to exit the vehicle in order to reduce the risk of injuring a

bicyclist approaching the vehicle from behind and that consists of the

following steps, or a variation of the following steps:

1. The

person checks the rear-view mirror and the side-view mirror for oncoming

traffic.

2. The

person uses his or her hand that is the farthest from the door and reaches

across his or her body to place the hand on the door handle.

3. The

person opens the door sufficiently to look in the direction of the oncoming

traffic and check one more time for oncoming traffic.

4. The

person opens the door completely and exits the vehicle.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Teach the Reach Act,

2022 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

April 11, 2022

First Reading

Vote

Carried

Debates and Progress

First Reading

April 11, 2022

Committee

Second Reading

Committee

Third Reading

Royal Assent

Acts affected - Bill 115

Most Ontario public acts are available electronically; to view copies of the Acts to be amended by this bill visit e-laws

Highway Traffic Act

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Was this page helpful? Yes , I found this page helpful. An optional survey will open in a new tab. No , I didn’t find this page helpful. An optional survey will open in a new tab.

Back to top