The War On Electronic Door Handles Just Came To The U.S.

"Let's cut to the meat: this bill would require automakers to ensure that vehicle door handles can be opened quickly and intuitively in the event of an emergency, even if the car loses power. It doesn't give specifics on what will be required in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards if the bill passes, however, it would direct the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to come up with the requirements and automakers to comply within two years of the rule being finalized."

"Whether its a software interface or something as critical as a car door handle, it should be extremely clear how to work the controlsin my opinion, at least. It turns out that some lawmakers feel this way, too. This week, Congresswoman Robin Kelly of Illinois introduced the Securing Accessible Functional Emergency (SAFE) Exit Act. Kelly's bill, which is backed by Consumer Reports, takes aim at electronic door handles, in response to concerns that the handles can delay or block access to escape during emergencies."

Congresswoman Robin Kelly introduced the Securing Accessible Functional Emergency (SAFE) Exit Act to require vehicle door handles to be quick and intuitive to open during emergencies, including loss of power. The bill targets electronically-actuated handles used by automakers such as Tesla and Rivian, citing concerns that some designs can delay or block escape and have been linked to fatalities. The legislation would direct the Secretary of Transportation to set Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards within two years and mandates that handles become more conspicuous, with better labeling, mechanical redundancies, and standardization to aid first responders and occupants.

Read at insideevs.com