Congress Urged to Up Child Safety In Automobiles

Congress is being urged by safety advocates to force automakers to install warning systems that would keep distracted parents from leaving children in hot cars, helping to prevent heatstroke deaths.

At least 41 children have died already this year in hot automobiles, more than any previous year to date at this point. According to the advocacy group Kids and Cars, August was the deadliest month on record.

Although much of the U.S. had record high temperatures from May to July, Jan Null, meteorologist, 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 for kids.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering a petition to include safety belt reminder chimes for all seating positions. Kids and Cars President Janette Fennell says these same chimes that sense if people aren't buckled in could also warn if children are still buckled in cars after they're locked.

Other safety groups including the Consumer Federation of America and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety also plan to push for words requiring chimes for kids left in cars to be included in sweeping highway legislation.

Jackie Gillan, vice president of the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety says "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?"

While NHTSA says it plans to assess technology that could address the problem, the agency stressed that parents and passersby must become more conscious of the danger and risks of children 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. Automakers rebuttal saying it's not as easy as it sounds. Using sensors to detect heat, heartbeats and/or the weight of children is not an exact science.

General Motors as well as auto supplier Delphi have considered several types of technology to warn drivers when a child is still in the back seat. GM spokesman Alan Adler says, as of right now, none of the approaches “are reliable enough to put in a vehicle.” In 2007, Delphi patented child-seat technology that warns when the temperature around a child gets to high, but no automakers currently have plans to install it in their cars.

There is no doubt something needs to be done to protect our children, but any in-auto system has to be completely fool proof to achieve its objective.  From 1998 through 2009, 51% of the deaths involved children forgotten in cars, 30% were children playing in unattended vehicles and 18% were intentionally left in cars.

Advocates insist technology is the answer. "We have reminders in our cars for lights, keys, doors, tire pressure and fuel," says Jack Gillis, spokesman for Consumer Federation of America. "Reminders regarding our most precious cargo are an absolute must."

I believe child safety advocators are on the right page. As of August, 41 children have already died. One child death is too high for children forgotten in cars, 41 deaths is ridiculous. Being a Father, I cannot push for safety reminders enough. But in the mean time, parents please follow these tips to help prevent these devastating travesties.

As a large supporter for child safety, I believe NHTSA should think strongly about putting language into legislation to help stop these preventable child deaths. As Gillis said, “We have reminders in our cars for lights, keys”…ect, but we have no reminder for our most precious cargo.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/ Fort Worth Car Accident Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. If you have any questions about child safety, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.