You have stopped in a parking strip and now want to exit your vehicle. What must you do in this situation?

Your answer is correct because before opening the door after stopping in a parking strip, German traffic rules require you to do two checks to ensure safety:

1. Look into the left-hand exterior rear-view mirror. This helps you see any approaching vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians from behind that might be in the door zone.

2. Quickly glance over your left shoulder. This is important because blind spots or smaller road users, like cyclists close to your door, might not be visible in the mirror alone.

Simply looking through a slightly opened door is not sufficient, as it limits your field of vision and can be dangerous. Always perform both mirror and shoulder checks to avoid accidents and comply with the safety regulations. This practice is sometimes referred to as the "Dutch Reach" method, encouraging drivers to use the far hand to open the door, which naturally turns the body and facilitates the over-the-shoulder glance.