A shake-up of the Highway Code coming this weekend will set out new recommendations for how drivers should open their car door.
Motorists will be told to adopt the “Dutch Reach” method, which requires you to use your furthest away hand to open your car door.
The idea is that by reaching over, you’re encouraged to turn your body and look out for cyclists before getting out of your vehicle.
If you’re sitting in the right-hand side of the vehicle - the driver’s side - you would use your left hand to open the car.
Or if you’re a passenger sitting in the left-hand side of the car, you’d have to reach over with your right hand.
The new section under rule 239 of the Highway Code 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.
"This will make you turn your head to look over your shoulder.
"You are then more likely to avoid causing injury to cyclists or motor cyclists passing you on the road, or to people on the pavement."
Changes to the Highway Code, including the new “Dutch Reach” method of getting out of your car, are due to come into force on January 29.
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The “Dutch Reach” was first coined in the Netherlands where it is used as standard practice when drivers exit their vehicle.
Researchers at Cycling UK have been calling for it to be implemented over here after it estimated over 500 people in the UK are injured by motorists opening a car door every year.
Chris Grayling, who was then serving as Transport Secretary, was caught knocking a cyclist off their bike when opening his door on Whitehall - further exasperating calls for action to be taken.
Under the new Highway Code in the UK, drivers will be told to give more priority to cyclists and pedestrians and everyone will have to give way to pedestrians that are waiting to cross a road they are turning into.
Pedestrians will have priority when on a zebra crossing, on a parallel crossing or at light controlled crossings when they have a green signal.
Cars indicating to turn left or right will also have to give way to cyclists coming from behind and going straight on, under the new rules.
Drivers should also leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph - and give them even more space when overtaking at higher speeds.