Source: Tesla sued by family of California teenager killed in fiery Cybertruck crash | US news | The Guardian ... The incident happened on the night of 27 November 2024, when the Cybertruck was traveling at high speed, struck a tree and ignited, according to a California highway patrol report. When power to the truck’s electric doors was shut down by the fire, the four passengers were locked inside with no way out. The lawsuit alleges the design of the Cybertruck’s door handles is at fault for Tsukahara’s death. From the inside of the truck, when electricity is cut off, the only way to exit a rear door is by pulling a cable that’s underneath a pocket liner under the door’s storage compartment, according to a report by Bloomberg. From outside the vehicle, the doors also remain locked and the flush handles make it difficult for rescue workers to jimmy their way inside. ... My Model 3 front seats have a manual open that may not be intuitive but easy to access. Also, the window glass can be easily broken. But the 'cybertruck' went the other way. Bob Wilson
TSLA should get a change of venue. Maybe to Mars. Where are they going to find 12 impartial humans here on Earth to weigh in on this??? If only we had an agency in the US that would prevent such vehicle defects from being allowed on public streets BEFORE they were built and sold.....
Regulations are a two edged sword. For example, outside rear view mirrors. Mandated by regulations, they add significant drag while having exceptionally narrow field of view. Today's digital cameras are aerodynamically invisible yet have a wide field of view making mirror adjustment redundant. Better still, a second pair aimed in the "A" pilar, blind spot can easily make the "A" pillar invisible. With proper video processing, 24x7, full left and right safety monitoring and alarm. But regulations require "mirrors" although I have been thinking about a workaround. Have smashed mirrors carried in the car with what appears to be the remnants of the mirror mount. If stopped by a cop, "Sorry sir. One of those anti-Tesla a**holes vandalized my car. I've got the broken parts in a box to take to the shop." But in this case, successful civil suit will work. In my work experience, most engineering projects are: 66% great 33% OK 1% "Oh SH*T" Bob Wilson
It was nearly 8 years ago that I'd first attempted to get out of Model X rear seats. Emergency lever behind speaker grills? Even presuming someone new where the lever was - removal of those grills were VERY hard to pull off. Maybe your finger threshold for pain is diminished when you're catching on fire . Sorryist & most ridiculous idea ever reinvented . Sometimes there's a reason no one bothers reinventing the wheel. .
The assumption here is that people will read their operations manual. We all know that 80% of them won't. That's why a sedans' trunk escape latch is yellow and glows in the dark.
The assumption seems to be that no one will take passengers anywhere without first insisting all their passengers read the operations manual. Seems reasonable to me....
Or - that at least the driver won't be knocked unconscious when the car catches on fire - to do a run-thru
I'm not sure which is worse; Dying from a fiery crash, and not being able to escape, or dying from embarrassment from driving a Cybertruck.
The point is that the over-ride/escape latch should be obvious and easy to access in an emergency - Just like sedan trunk release. Hiding it behind a speaker panel - kinda defeats the purpose. I'm sure some people has called emergency services to get themselves out of their own locked cars.
As well as the external handle. Both should work with loss of vehicle voltage to the door and or door structure. This suggests: electrical power in the door (i.e., super capacitor and/or battery) automatic unlock after motion stops after air bag deployment additional evacuation services are optional Bob Wilson
my bolt still has mechanical handles inside and out, and that's the way i like it. unfortunately, gm envied tesla and added flush handles to the equinox ev. hopefully, everything is still mechanical though.
Good Luck when your in a panic, trying not to get burned alive..... Hopefully you can find your phone and have cell service I know of some 'super car' manufacturers has gone to all electronic - even the manual key is just an electronic switch. Most has a jump point connection in the front or rear bumper, under a trim plate to power-up if the battery should die. Ditto with those new fingerprint or proximity household deadbolt locks.
No chance of that for me, I'd be dead from embarrassment before riding in a Cybertruck. I carry a glassbreaker in my pocket for similar misadventures.
