Update: NHTSA has reached out to Motor1 with a statement regarding the issue of door handle safety. "NHTSA received a petition for rulemaking to require an emergency door egress system to address the risk of occupant entrapment in vehicles during electrical power failures, and the agency granted that petition. Granting a rulemaking petition is not a decision by NHTSA to issue a new safety standard, but commences the process of gathering input to make an informed decision. NHTSA will gather additional information and data, and solicit public comments, to determine if a rulemaking for a new safety standard is appropriate under the requirements of the Vehicle Safety Act."
In our ever-increasing digital world, even seemingly simple items become electronic. Take, for example, the humble door handle. On lots of vehicles these days, that handle operates electronically instead of mechanically. And that can become a big problem if you're in an accident.
