‘Help! Why won’t my car doors open from the inside?’ [Newbie Guide]

Doors are the primary method of getting into and out of a vehicle. As their first point of contact on a new car, first-time drivers are especially careful not to overly pull or excessively slam the doors, and any jangling noise inside the door panels is treated as a cause for concern.  

No matter how big or small a vehicle is, doors are the primary means of getting in and out 

What might seem equally alarming is when you or the vehicle’s other occupants find yourselves suddenly unable to open the car doors, particularly the rear ones, if you need to alight from the vehicle. And just as full-blown panic is about to set in, someone from the outside manages to open the door normally, adding to the confusion. 

The truth is that there’s nothing bewildering about it at all. If you happen to own a late-model car, chances are it comes equipped with child safety locks on the rear doors. 

It's confusing to see the door unlocked on the inside yet refusing to open

As the name suggests, this feature was meant to protect small children by preventing them from accidentally opening the rear doors while the vehicle is in motion. With how restless kids can get especially on long trips, they’ll likely resort to playing around with anything within their reach – and that includes door handles. If they happen to be traveling unrestrained by the rear seatbelts or child seats, the situation becomes even more dangerous.      

A child safety lock is a little switch at the edge of the door. Engaging this switch prevents the doors from being opened using the interior handle, which guarantees that little tykes stay inside the safety of the car while you’re driving through city streets or open highways. 

Modern cars have a child safety lock to prevent accidentally opening the doors while the vehicle is moving 

In many cases, the safety lock can be accidentally engaged while boarding or exiting the car. Even something as trivial as wiping down the vehicle at a car wash can inadvertently set the switch to the Lock position, resulting in hapless passengers finding themselves stuck inside the car. 

When that happens, the door’s external handle still works, so you can simply lower the window and reach out your arm to grip the handle outside and open the door. Or if anyone happens to be standing outside the car at that moment, just signal for assistance. Don’t forget to reset the safety switch to avoid getting locked in again.  

Find more tips for beginner car owners at Philkotse.com.