United States government is set to develop new safety requirements for automakers to ensure drivers and passengers can escape their vehicles in emergencies.

The rule-making process, outlined in a regulatory filing and first reported by Bloomberg, follows a series of incidents, including fatal cases, involving people becoming trapped inside vehicles fitted with flush, electronically operated door handles, such as those used on Tesla models.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the process after receiving a petition calling for a safety defect investigation into the emergency mechanical door-release system in 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles.

The petition alleged that the design fails to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards.

NHTSA declined to take the action sought by the petitioners, saying the issue would be better addressed through a formal rule-making process rather than a safety defect investigation.

If the agency ultimately adopts new rules, all automakers would be required to comply. However, NHTSA stressed that beginning the rule-making process does not guarantee that new regulations will be developed.

The decision comes less than a year after the agency opened an investigation into Tesla’s door handles following nine reports from owners who were unable to access their vehicles, in some cases with children still inside.

The probe followed a report into multiple incidents in which Tesla drivers and passengers became trapped inside their vehicles after crashes.

Although Tesla vehicles are equipped with manual door releases, they are located inside the cabin.

In an initial review, NHTSA found that the releases may fail to operate if the electronic door locks do not receive sufficient voltage from the vehicle’s battery system.