1656.1.
(a) (1) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall include in its California Driver Handbook published pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1656 information advising drivers to use the Dutch Reach method when opening a vehicle door after parallel parking on a street.(2) The department shall include in the question pool used for the written portion of the driver’s license examination administered pursuant to Section 12804.9 test questions concerning safe driving in the presence of bicycles, one of which may be a question regarding the Dutch Reach method.
(b) For purposes of this section, “Dutch Reach method” means a vehicle driver checking the rearview mirror, checking the side view mirror, and then opening the driver’s side door with the driver’s right hand, thereby reducing the risk of either injuring a bicyclist or of opening the door in the path of another vehicle approaching from behind.