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THE CABBIE OR THE PASSENGER? Who would be at fault if the passenger door hits a cyclist when exiting?
The meter has stopped and the fare has been paid, but one serious risk remains. A passenger can turn an ordinary taxi set-down into a collision with a single door movement.
Cyclists, motorcyclists and e-scooter riders may pass close to stationary vehicles, particularly where a taxi stops beside a cycle lane or in slow urban traffic. An opening door gives them little time or space to avoid impact.
Regulation 105 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 says no person may open, cause or permit a vehicle door to be opened on a road in a way that injures or endangers another person. The rule applies to the person opening the door, not just the driver.
Taxi and private hire drivers nevertheless occupy the best position to reduce the risk before it develops. They choose where to stop, can assess traffic through the mirrors and know when a passenger is about to leave.
That begins with the set-down location. Pulling alongside a cycle lane, stopping away from the kerb or allowing a passenger to exit into moving traffic can place the door directly in another road user’s path.
The safest side is usually the kerb side, but it is not automatically safe. Pedestrians, mobility scooters and cyclists may still be present, while a pavement can contain railings, street furniture or an unexpected drop.
Some passengers do not always wait for or listen to instructions though. Some reach for the handle while the vehicle is moving, open a door at traffic lights or leave on whichever side is nearest their seat.
A brief warning can prevent the problem: “Please wait while I check,” followed by “Use the left-hand door when it is safe.” The wording need not sound dramatic, but it should arrive before anybody touches the handle.
Child locks may help with younger passengers, subject to the vehicle design and licensing conditions. They are not a complete answer because adults can still open other doors and passengers need to be able to leave safely during an emergency.
Rule 239 of the Highway Code tells drivers and passengers to check for cyclists and other traffic before opening a door. It recommends opening the door with the hand on the opposite side, a method commonly called the Dutch Reach.
Using the opposite hand rotates the upper body towards the window and mirror. That movement makes an over-the-shoulder check more natural before the door enters the road.
The technique is useful, but passengers may have restricted movement, poor sight or limited understanding of English. Drivers should combine it with a mirror check and a direct warning rather than assume every customer knows the method.
Wheelchair-accessible vehicles also require more planning. Ramps, lifts and wide doors may occupy more road or pavement space than a conventional door, while the boarding process takes longer. The driver should select a location with enough clearance, secure the vehicle and control deployment of the equipment. A rushed ramp operation beside live traffic exposes the passenger, driver and other road users.
Luggage creates a different distraction whilst trying to enter or exit the cab. Passengers may open a road-side door while the driver is focused on the boot. A professional unloading routine should establish which doors remain closed before anybody begins removing bags.
Driver training should address real set-down situations rather than merely recite the Highway Code. Stations, schools, hotels, nightlife areas and streets with kerbside cycle lanes each produce different hazards. In black cabs the driver can control the passenger doors via the brake pedal and that is a handy tool in controlling the safe exit of passengers.
After an actual collision, the driver should stop, protect the scene, seek medical or police assistance where appropriate and preserve relevant evidence. Dashcam footage, booking records and vehicle details may later become important.
Responsibility will depend on the facts. A passenger may have opened the door, but questions can still arise about where the driver stopped, what warnings were given and whether the door opening was caused or permitted.
