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Motorists could be forced to fork out up to £1,000 in fines if passengers make a major mistake and break a crucial driving rule behind the wheel. Lee Caroline, a car expert at Surrey car scrap company LJC Autospares, explained road users could be under threat after simply opening the car door.

Although usually harmless, accidentally opening a car door directly into a passenger or cyclist can be an issue and is likely to break a Highway Code rule. Hitting someone else can see road users slapped with hefty four-figure fines and could lead to major "insurance issues".

Lee said: "If a cyclist is injured after a door is opened into their path, the offence can carry a fine of up to £1,000, with no need for the vehicle to be moving at the time. Even if a child or passenger opens the door, drivers can still find themselves dealing with fines, claims and insurance issues that follow."

Experts admitted road users and passengers should adopt a simple trick when opening car doors to ensure they are never putting others at risk. Those who lean across their whole body to open their car door instead of their nearest hand are more likely to check for danger.

The so-called 'Dutch Reach' technique is easy to learn and could help road users avoid some serious hot water in 2026.

Lee explained: "Opening the door with the far hand forces you to twist and look over your shoulder, giving you a clear view of cyclists approaching before the door is opened fully."

Rule 239 of the Highway Code states motorists should always use off-street parking areas, or bays marked out with white lines on the road as parking places, wherever possible.

If road users have to stop on the roadside, individuals must ensure they do not hit anyone when opening the door. The Highway Code states drivers need to check for cyclists or other traffic by looking all around and using their mirrors.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) previously urged cyclists to also make sure they are travelling outside of the "door zone". This made sure that cyclists were riding at least 1.5 metres away from parked cars to avoid being hit by any wayward car doors.

They added: "The Dutch Reach is a practice for drivers and passengers where, rather than using your hand closest to the door to open it, you use your far hand. This sets off a series of five linked actions: reach, swivel, look back, open slowly, and then exit facing traffic."