The auto club warns against recessed door handles. According to him, they are life-threatening

Recessed door handles were most popularized by the American car manufacturer Tesla, which started using them already on its first generation Model S. Since then, the stylish door opening system has expanded and is used by many manufacturers today. In addition, some brands have combined this technology with electronic locks that do not have conventional mechanical opening. The problem is that people who don’t know recessed handles usually don’t even know how to use them. Which can cause serious complications.

“In the event of an emergency, vehicles should open quickly and intuitively so that rescuers can reach any injured people as quickly as possible and provide them with first aid in time,” explains ÖAMTC technician Steffan Kerbl. He further adds that for this reason such tests are part of the Euro NCAP crash tests.

If you have a car with recessed or sliding handles yourself, or if you have encountered this solution in the past, then you know that opening the door can sometimes be difficult and a special handle is needed for this. But emergency services are not trained for modern integrated door handles that “disappear” flush with the bodywork. They can be a nuisance in a rescue where every second counts. And it doesn’t just apply to rescuers or firefighters.

“If civilians are the first responders to a traffic accident, they may not be able to open the car and spend too much time getting into the cabin that could otherwise be devoted to first aid,” explains Steffan Kerbl.