How to Exit a Parked Car Safely Near Passing Traffic

First, secure the vehicle against movement by following its parking procedure, including setting the parking brake and selecting the appropriate transmission position. Put your phone away and gather loose belongings before your final traffic check so you won't need to look away halfway through it.

1. Pause with the door latched. Get ready to leave before reaching for the handle.
2. Check your mirrors. Look in the rearview mirror and the mirror on your exit side for approaching vehicles and riders.
3. Look directly beside and behind you. Check through the windows, turning only as far as you comfortably can. You're checking the space your door and body will enter, including areas outside the lane used by cars.
4. Wait for a clear opportunity. Let approaching traffic pass, then check again. You need room and time for your whole exit, including closing the door.
5. Open cautiously and keep control. Continue watching as you open the door and move out. Don't swing it wide or leave it sticking out into traffic.

[Federal bicycle safety guidance](https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/consumer-advisory-safety-tips-bicycle-safety-month-bike-school-day) tells motorists to look for cyclists before opening a door. That's why a gap between cars isn't enough: a rider may still be approaching alongside them.

Don't crack the door to signal that you want to get out. If a conversation, dropped item, or forgotten bag interrupts your check, start the check again. There's no universal gap that works for every street or every person.

Plan the exit around the person using it. If you need extra time to stand, steady yourself, or help a child, a brief break in traffic may not give you enough time. You don't have to make that gap work.

Choose a curbside exit when it's accessible and you've checked the space outside. Don't climb awkwardly across a console to reach it, and don't assume the curbside space is clear of bikes or pedestrians.

If the location doesn't work, ask the driver to move to a better spot, or prepare to drive there yourself. Everyone needs to be seated and properly secured before the vehicle moves. For recurring mobility difficulties, a qualified driver rehabilitation professional can help you develop an individualized routine.

Before anyone opens a door, make sure they can see the path a rider or vehicle might approach along.

A mirror shows part of the space around your car, but it doesn't show every position beside it. A rider can also move between your mirror glance and your reach for the handle. Use your mirrors and a direct look together; both checks matter.

Stopped cars, moving rider: You're parked beside a queue of cars waiting at a light. The car nearest you isn't moving, so getting out feels easy. But a cyclist or scooter rider may still be moving through the space alongside the queue. Check that approaching path before opening. [City transportation safety guidance](https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pr2023/traffic-safety-psa.shtml) addresses both drivers and passengers because either person's door can obstruct a rider.

Blocked view, unknown approach: A tall vehicle parked behind you hides the stretch where a rider could be approaching. You can see the space immediately beside your door, but you can't see how someone might enter it. That's an insufficient view: an empty patch beside you doesn't tell you what's about to reach it. Don't open the door to get a better look. If waiting doesn't resolve the obstruction, choose another parking location when you can safely move.

Darkness or glare: You turn to look, but reflections or darkness keep you from seeing the approaching path clearly. You've completed the movement without getting the information you need. Keep the door closed while you're uncertain, and look for a location with better visibility.

Can using your farther hand help?

The [far-hand reach guidance](https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/summer-safety/far-hand-reach) describes using the hand farther from the door to encourage a turn toward the mirror and a look back. At a typical left-side driver's door, that's your right hand. At a right-side passenger door, it's your left.

Keep the door latched while checking. The reach helps remind you to look, but you still need to judge whether the path is clear. Skip it if it causes pain or makes the door harder to control. If your vehicle has an exit-warning feature, check its limitations in the manual: the absence of an alert doesn't mean the path is clear.

Save this short checklist for a new driver, a family member, or your next busy-street stop:

Before the door opens

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Ready: Vehicle secured, phone away, belongings gathered.

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Look: Check mirrors, then look directly beside and behind you.

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Decide: Can I see the approaching path, and do I have room and time to get out and close the door without making someone brake or swerve?

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Move: If it's clear, open cautiously, keep watching, and control the door. If I'm unsure, keep it closed.

A short passenger reminder helps everyone follow the same plan: “Keep your door closed until you've checked beside and behind you.” For children who need supervision, use: “Wait for me to tell you when and where to get out.” Give that reminder before passengers start unbuckling or reaching for handles, so they've got time to listen.

Practice the checking movements while safely parked in a quiet location, with the door latched. Notice whether your seat position, coat, or bag blocks your view or restricts your movement. If you're carrying something bulky, work out how you'll hold it without losing control of the door. Making those adjustments before a busy stop helps you focus on the traffic when it's time to leave.

You can park successfully and still discover that getting out there won't work. If you can't see the approaching path or need more room than the spot provides, wait for conditions to improve or move to another location when you can safely do so. Keeping the door closed gives you time to choose a safer exit.

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