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Tesla Crash Highlights Emergency Access Concerns

A Tesla crash left a woman trapped inside. Despite manual door releases, she couldn't escape. This incident raises crucial questions about emergency access in electric vehicles.

This is a presentation and here we can see vehicles on the road and we can see some text written.
This is a presentation and here we can see vehicles on the road and we can see some text written.

Tesla Crash Highlights Emergency Access Concerns

A tragic crash on Toronto's Lake Shore Boulevard last month claimed four lives and left one injured. The incident involved a Tesla vehicle, raising questions about emergency access in such situations.

The crash highlighted concerns about accessing passengers in emergency situations. A woman inside the Tesla car desperately tried to open the doors but was unable to do so. This incident occurred despite Tesla vehicles being equipped with manual door releases for emergencies, allowing doors to be opened even if the car loses electrical power.

Tesla's approach to safety has been praised by emergency personnel. David Schmitz, a captain with the Calgary Fire Department, commended Tesla's safety features as 'way ahead of anyone else' from a first-responder perspective. In a crash, Tesla's high-voltage system automatically shuts down when airbags deploy, and a separate low-voltage battery keeps doors and windows running for about 10-15 minutes, providing a crucial window for rescue operations. Additionally, Tesla's windows are designed to be broken in emergencies to reach the manual door release.

In this particular incident, a Canada Post worker, Rick Harper, saved a fifth passenger by breaking a window with a metal pole, demonstrating the importance of these emergency access features.

The Lake Shore Boulevard crash underscores the importance of emergency access in electric vehicles. While Tesla's safety features have been praised, this incident serves as a reminder that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of passengers in emergency situations. Further collaboration between automakers and emergency services is crucial to improve vehicle design and response protocols.

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