A lesson may appear finished once the engine is off, yet road safety continues while people open doors and leave the vehicle. Car-door collisions can injure cyclists and endanger pedestrians or passing traffic. An instructor should make the final kerbside observation part of the learner’s routine rather than treat it as an optional courtesy.
The legal duty extends to opening doors
The South Australian Driver’s Handbook states that a vehicle door must not be opened so as to endanger bicycle riders, pedestrians or other road users. It also advises drivers to look behind and over the right shoulder for riders and traffic before opening the door. The duty is not limited to fast-moving roads; a quiet shopping street or narrow cycle corridor can present a serious hazard.
Think about everyone in the vehicle. The driver is responsible for choosing a safe stopping place and communicating clearly with passengers. An instructor can tell passengers to wait until the nearby traffic and pedestrian path are safe before opening a door. A parked car is not automatically clear of traffic just because its indicator has been cancelled.
A simple kerbside teaching routine
Before stopping, identify whether bicycles or pedestrians are likely to pass alongside the intended parking space. Finish parking legally and leave adequate room where possible. Before opening any door, check mirrors, look back and assess the approach of bicycles, motorcycles, scooters and pedestrians. Encourage occupants to exit on the safer side when practical and legal, particularly on busy streets.
Door-opening techniques can help a person turn their shoulders to look behind, but no named technique replaces a real visual check. Check for riders emerging from behind another parked vehicle and remember that approaching traffic may be harder to hear in an enclosed car.
Build a professional habit
Use a parked-car exercise with no approaching traffic, then discuss a hypothetical cyclist approaching the door. Observe whether the learner pauses, looks, explains who could be affected and waits when uncertain. Avoid staging a demonstration with a live cyclist or deliberately opening the door into a traffic lane.
The broader training message is that a driver’s safety duties continue during parking, passenger unloading and lesson completion.
Official references and further learning
Explore DAA defensive driving.
Instructor education only. Refer to current South Australian legislation and official guidance before using this information in formal training or assessment.