ADAC warns against the current car trend because it makes rescue more difficult

At Tesla and Co.
Rescue is becoming more difficult – ADAC warns about the current car trend

Retractable car handles are all the rage at Tesla and Co. Now the ADAC is sounding the alarm: In an emergency, the trendy handles are a real risk.

It just seems high-tech: if you want a Tesla or something else modern To open the car, you can’t just pull the door handle. Unlike classic models, they cannot be easily accessed through a hollow. Instead, they are installed flush in the door – and in Tesla’s case, for example, they only extend when the car is unlocked. But that is exactly what can be dangerous, the ADAC is currently warning.

In the event of an accident, it is important to be able to get out of the car as quickly as possible, explains the car club in a current statement. “Retractable door handles, i.e. those that retract flush into the side of the car when parking and driving, could, from the ADAC’s perspective, make this task significantly more difficult, especially for laypeople,” it continues. “But even professional rescue workers take longer to get to the occupants if the doors cannot be opened easily.”

ADAC warns against electric door openers

One variant of the retractable handles in particular is a thorn in the side of automobile enthusiasts: those that are electronically controlled. While handles that can be folded out with pressure can still be used in an emergency, the electronic door handles turn the car into a trap in the event of a power failure. “If the power supply is disrupted after an accident, the handle could remain retracted and accident helpers could not reach the car occupants,” says the ADAC. This is extremely dangerous, especially in the event of a fire.

It’s not just about the external handles, where there are still ergonomic reasons for the design decision. Door handles from the inside are also increasingly relying on electricity in order to open intuitively. At Tesla, the battery used for this had already locked drivers in the car (find out more here).

Although many models have emergency unlocking devices, these often cannot be opened without prior knowledge, criticizes the ADAC. “Car owners who have a vehicle with an electric door opening from the inside should familiarize themselves with the emergency unlocking options in the vehicle manual before setting off – and ideally show it to the other occupants,” the association recommends.

known problems

Although there have been no problems with the systems in tests by the European vehicle safety consortium NCAP, the ADAC refers to numerous media reports in which problems occurred. A driver of a Tesla Y in Vancouver only managed to get out of his burning car because he kicked out the window. “The door wouldn’t unlock, the window wouldn’t open,” the driver complained to the TV station “CTV”. Meanwhile, the car filled with smoke. According to the “Handelsblatt”, five people have died since 2018 because Tesla doors could not be opened. Including two Germans.

This did not lead to a rethink at Tesla: the Cybertruck, which is not registered in Germany, no longer has any door handles on the outside. Instead, an electric unlocking mechanism opens the door a crack.

Prefer real door handles

“From the mobility club’s perspective, a mechanical solution for extending the door handles guarantees the best chance of being able to open the doors from the outside after a crash,” summarizes the association. This applies if the doors are warped. Then “a stable, extended door handle can help to open the door even in the event of deformation and great resistance.”

The ADAC believes that “an emergency window hammer that is conveniently but safely stowed away can be helpful in case of doubt.” However, this is not always useful because of the laminated glass panes installed in modern cars.

Sources: ADAC, CTV