Accidents with open car doors: Risk remains high in major cities - Berlin’s cyclists face rising ‘dooring’ dangers despite new safety tech
Berlin remains a hotspot for 'dooring' accidents, where car doors opened into the path of cyclists cause serious crashes. In 2024 alone, the city recorded 392 such incidents—almost 8% of all bicycle accidents resulting in injury or death. While newer safety tech and bike lane designs aim to reduce risks, gaps in data and inconsistent protections leave cyclists vulnerable.
Dooring poses a greater threat in densely packed cities like Berlin than in rural or less congested areas. The high volume of parked cars and cyclists sharing narrow streets increases collision risks. National rules now demand a 75-centimetre buffer zone between parked vehicles and bike lanes for all newly built or upgraded routes, but many older lanes in Berlin still lack this space.
Some carmakers have introduced warning systems to tackle the problem. Models from Lexus, VW, Ford, Hyundai, and Kia include sensors that detect approaching cyclists and alert occupants before they open a door. The Toyota C-HR+ even features a door-exit assistant that can temporarily block the door from swinging open. Yet no complete, up-to-date list exists of which exact models with these systems are currently sold at Berlin dealerships. Germany’s patchy record-keeping makes the issue harder to track. Only a few federal states log dooring incidents separately, leaving no nationwide statistics. The German Insurance Association has pushed for these warning systems to become standard in all vehicles, arguing they could significantly cut accident rates. Berlin’s figures show a slight decline in dooring crashes over the past decade, but the numbers remain high compared to other regions.
With 392 dooring incidents in 2024, Berlin’s cyclists still face substantial risks despite safety improvements. Wider buffer zones and warning technology help, but inconsistent bike lane upgrades and incomplete data leave gaps. The push for standardised systems in all cars could further reduce accidents—but for now, cyclists must navigate streets where older lanes and unprotected parking spots remain common.
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