NHTSA to Develop New Safety Rule for Vehicle Doors Amid Trapping Concerns

U.S. auto safety regulators are initiating a process to create new federal requirements for vehicle door systems, prompted by concerns that occupants can become trapped inside cars with electronic or flush-mounted door handles, such as those used by Tesla. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the move on Thursday in a regulatory filing.

NHTSA Grants Petition for New Standard

The agency has granted a petition that requested it "mandate a robust and obvious door egress system in all motor vehicles," officially beginning the rulemaking process. If finalized, any new requirements would apply to all new vehicles sold in the United States.

The petition was submitted in November by a Silicon Valley engineer, who argued that action is needed to "address a critical, life-threatening safety gap" posed by electronic or "hidden" door latch and release systems. These designs have become increasingly common, particularly on electric vehicles.

Focus on Electronic Door Handles After Incidents

The safety review focuses on vehicles with flush, electrically operated door handles, a design feature prominently used by automakers including Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA). The petition and subsequent review were driven by incidents in which occupants became trapped inside vehicles after a loss of power, including in the aftermath of a crash.

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According to the source material, there have been several cases where occupants of Tesla vehicles survived the initial impact of a high-speed crash but died or sustained serious injuries from subsequent fires after being unable to exit the car.

Long Road Ahead for Regulations

While the NHTSA has agreed to start the rulemaking process, the agency stated it will decide whether to impose new requirements based on information developed during this period. Immediate changes to vehicle door designs are unlikely.

The process to develop and finalize a new federal auto safety rule can take years. Automakers and industry groups often push back against new safety mandates that impose additional engineering and production costs.