What prevents children from opening rear doors from the inside?

Child safety locks are mechanisms that prevent children from opening a vehicle’s rear doors from inside. They are usually engaged with a small switch or lever on the edge of each rear door, accessible only when the door is open. Once activated, the inside handle is disabled, while the door can still be opened from outside.

The locks are intended to stop a child from accidentally opening a door while the vehicle is moving. They are separate from central locking, which controls whether doors are locked or unlocked, and from window locks, which limit operation of electric windows. Ordinary door locks can secure a door, but they do not necessarily block the inside handle in the same specialized way.

Many modern cars use a mechanical child lock, while some provide an electronic control through the driver’s door panel or infotainment system. Adults should still check that the lock is engaged and use the vehicle’s seat belts or approved child restraints; a child safety lock is a door-opening safeguard, not a substitute for restraint.