A new bill has been introduced in the US House of Representatives, targeting the design of electric vehicle door handles (with an emphasis on Tesla and Elon Musk). The bill, called the 'Securing Accessible Functional Emergency (SAFE) Exit Act', aims to force car manufacturers to install "easily accessible manual releases" in case of a problem.
There's a trend in the auto industry to move toward electronic door. This is something that's particularly common on Teslas. Instead of a mechanical linkage that physically unlocks the door when you pull a handle, a button or sensor sends a signal to an actuator that opens the door.
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While this allows for frameless windows and smoother aerodynamics, it does create a safety concern: if something goes wrong, such as during a crash, the doors may remain locked (unless there is a mechanical override). Most vehicles with electronic locks, including Teslas, have manual releases. However, they are not always visible or easily accessible.
SAFE Exit Act: Tesla and Elon Musk in the spotlight
U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (IL-02) has introduced the SAFE Exit Act to require automakers to include accessible manual releases. The press release for the bill directly addresses concerns about the safety of electric vehicle doors, including Tesla doors that have trapped people in their cars. At least 15 people have died in car crashes due to Tesla doors that failed to open.
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The bill would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a final rule setting forth performance and labeling requirements for power doors.
Spokeswoman Kelly was harsh, speaking about Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk: 'Profits and style should not come before people's lives. Tesla and Elon Musk's designs are unsafe, inefficient, and have cost people their lives. When crashes or power outages leave drivers and passengers trapped inside their cars, that's not innovation—it's a safety failure.'
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The legislation is supported by Consumer Reports, which has long supported intuitive manual releases.
