Tesla Tried To Reimagine Door Handles. Here's Where It Backfired

"Flush-mounted door handles might look cool and futuristic-it is cool when a car presents them to a driver when it senses their presence-but the feature has long been hailed as a potential hazard. Vehicle safety advocates are finally gaining traction on the risks of this problematic design following years of criticizing the issues presented to drivers and first responders in the event of an emergency."

"Here's the problem: a door handle isn't supposed to be a gimmick or some sort of flashy jewelry to show off just how cool your car is. It's there to serve a purpose. It's supposed to be a simple, intuitive lever that anyone (driver, passenger, good Samaritan, firefighter or police officer) can rip open in a heartbeat. That problem has now grabbed the attention of lawmakers."

Flush-mounted and electronically actuated door handles can be hard to find or inoperable after a crash, trapping occupants and delaying rescue. Safety advocates report several high-profile crashes where hidden or power-dependent handles contributed to injuries. Some Tesla owners and crash examples show handles rendered unusable when electrical power was cut, leaving passengers trapped. Regulators and lawmakers are paying attention, and China may become the first country to take action. Advocates emphasize that door handles must be simple, intuitive levers accessible to drivers, passengers, first responders and bystanders to enable rapid exit or rescue.

Read at InsideEVs