U.S. regulators are considering new safety requirements for car manufacturers to ensure that drivers and passengers can evacuate their vehicles safely. This initiative, highlighted in a regulatory document, follows several alarming incidents, including fatalities, where individuals became trapped in vehicles equipped with flush, electronically controlled door handles, such as those found in Tesla models.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced this review in response to a request for an inquiry into the emergency mechanical door release system in the 2022 Tesla Model 3. The request flagged concerns that the door release mechanism may not meet federal automotive safety standards.
Although NHTSA did not pursue the specific action requested in the petition, they stated that the best course of action would be to address the matter through a new rule-making process instead of launching a defect investigation.
Should NHTSA implement new regulations, all automobile manufacturers will be required to comply. However, it’s essential to clarify that the initiation of rulemaking does not guarantee that new regulations will be established, according to NHTSA.
“NHTSA received a petition to create a requirement for an emergency door exit system to mitigate the risk of occupants becoming trapped in vehicles during power failures, and the agency has approved that petition,” NHTSA indicated in a statement sent via email. “While granting a rulemaking petition does not automatically result in a new safety standard, it does initiate the process of gathering insights to facilitate an informed decision. NHTSA will collect more information and data, as well as seek public comments, to evaluate if a new safety standard is warranted as per the Vehicle Safety Act requirements.”
This announcement follows NHTSA’s investigation into Tesla’s door handles, which was launched after receiving nine reports from owners who had difficulty accessing their vehicles, sometimes while children remained inside. This inquiry came in the wake of a series of incidents reported by other sources, in which Tesla occupants found themselves trapped post-accident.
While Tesla vehicles do include manual door releases, these are only accessible from within the vehicle. An initial assessment by NHTSA revealed that the handles may fail to operate if the electronic locks do not receive sufficient voltage from the car’s battery system.
Tesla’s designer, Franz von Holzhausen, noted last year that the company is working on redesigning its door handles. Similarly, Rivian announced plans to reposition the manual release on its R2 SUV closer to the electrically powered door handles for better visibility.
This article has been updated to include a statement from the NHTSA.
