Many vehicles are equipped with safety mechanisms to prevent accidental opening of the tailgate or rear hatch. These safety features are designed to ensure that the tailgate can only be opened intentionally and under safe conditions. The specific safety mechanisms can vary between different car manufacturers and models, but here are some common ones:
Child Locks: Many vehicles have child safety locks that can be engaged to prevent children in the rear seats from accidentally opening the tailgate. This feature typically disables the interior handle or switch that controls the tailgate.
Interior Lock Switch: Some vehicles have an interior lock switch that allows the driver or passengers to disable the tailgate switch or button. When engaged, this switch prevents the tailgate from being opened using the interior controls.
Smart Key Fob: Key fobs with smart keyless entry systems often have a feature that requires the key fob to be within a certain proximity of the vehicle for the tailgate switch to work. This prevents unauthorized or accidental tailgate openings.
Obstacle Detection Sensors: Many power tailgate systems are equipped with obstacle detection sensors. These sensors use ultrasonic or infrared technology to detect if there is an object or obstruction in the path of the closing tailgate. If an obstacle is detected, the tailgate will stop closing or reverse direction to avoid trapping objects or causing damage.
Speed Sensors: Some vehicles have speed-sensitive tailgate locks that prevent the tailgate from being opened at high speeds. This is a safety measure to prevent accidents while driving.
Manual Locking Mechanisms: Some vehicles have manual locking mechanisms for the tailgate that require a key or a specific action to unlock. This ensures that the tailgate cannot be opened accidentally.
Keyless Entry Confirmation: In vehicles with keyless entry and a power tailgate, there may be a confirmation step required to open the tailgate, such as double-pressing a button on the key fob or a button inside the vehicle. This additional step reduces the likelihood of accidental openings.
Time Delay: Some tailgate systems have a time delay feature, meaning that after pressing the tailgate switch, there is a brief delay before the tailgate actually opens. This allows the user to cancel the opening if it was pressed accidentally.
These safety mechanisms are in place to protect vehicle occupants, prevent accidents, and avoid damage to the vehicle or objects in the tailgate's path. It's important for drivers and passengers to be aware of these features and how to use them effectively to ensure safe operation of the tailgate.