Safety advocates are urging Congress and regulators to force carmakers to install warning systems that would prevent distracted parents from leaving children in cars, preventing heatstroke deaths.
At least 41 children have died already this year in hot cars, more than any previous year at this point. August was the deadliest month on record, according to the advocacy group Kids and Cars.
Although much of the U.S. had record temperatures from May to July, meteorologist Jan Null says the temperature in a closed car can rise 19 degrees in 10 minutes and 43 degrees in an hour, so even cooler days present risks.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering a petition to include safety belt reminder chimes for all seating positions. In comments she plans to submit this week to NHTSA, Kids and Cars President Janette Fennell says these same chimes that sense if people aren't buckled in should also warn if children are still buckled in cars after they're locked.
Safety groups including the Consumer Federation of America and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety also plan to push for language that requires driver-reminder chimes for kids in cars to be included soon in sweeping highway legislation.
"If you're going to have a reminder system for people to buckle up, why not remind them if they haven't taken the child out of the seat?" asks Jackie Gillan, vice president of the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.
While NHTSA says it plans to evaluate technology that could address the problem, the agency stressed that parents and passersby must recognize the risk to kids in hot cars.
"While there may be technologies that help remind parents to never leave a child alone in a car, nothing can replace the need for a parent to be vigilant," says NHTSA chief David Strickland.
Still, consumer groups say they're frustrated that once-promising technology to prevent deaths to children locked in hot cars isn't available.
Vote Result
Score: 0.0, Votes: 0
