Saving Lives: The Urgent Push for Lifesaving Car Technology

Across the street from the Department of Transportation's headquarters in Washington, D.C., a powerful display has emerged, serving as a poignant reminder of the lives lost to hot car tragedies. Advocates working to prevent these devastating incidents have hung 1,086 colorful infant onesies underneath a tree, each one representing a child's life lost in hot cars since 1990, according to the advocacy organization Kids and Car Safety.

Driving Change: The Urgent Call for Lifesaving Technology

The Heartbreaking Toll of Hot Car Tragedies

As another scorching summer approaches, advocates are renewing their call for federal regulators to require technology in cars that can help prevent child deaths. The statistics are staggering – three children have already died in hot cars in 2024, and an average of 38 children lose their lives in these tragic incidents each year, according to Kids and Car Safety. These preventable deaths have left families shattered and have spurred a nationwide movement to find a solution.

The Regulatory Roadblock: NHTSA's Missed Deadlines

Despite the availability of advanced technology that can detect the presence of a child in the backseat and alert the driver, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has fallen short in its efforts to mandate these lifesaving systems. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act set deadlines for NHTSA to issue a rule requiring all new passenger vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds to be equipped with such a system, but the agency has missed these critical deadlines.

The Race Against Time: NHTSA's Ongoing Evaluation

NHTSA was supposed to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by December 2022 and a final rule by November 2023, but it has yet to take these crucial steps. Amber Rollins, the director of Kids and Car Safety, expressed her frustration, stating, "They had two years to look at what technology is out there and to come up with a final rule. Well, it's almost a year past that deadline, and they still haven't even issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking." The new deadline for NHTSA to issue the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is August 2024, but the delay has already cost precious time in the fight to save lives.

NHTSA's Evolving Approach: Exploring Innovative Solutions

In response to the criticism, NHTSA has stated that it is "exploring exceeding congressional requirements by evaluating a full range of options that could more effectively address the issue of hot car deaths." The agency is initiating rulemaking to require vehicles to have a system that reminds the driver to check the back seat at the end of a drive, and it is also analyzing more sophisticated technology that would detect and alert parents if a child is in the back seat. Additionally, NHTSA is assessing the one rear seat occupant detection system the agency has acquired and plans to continue testing other systems as they become publicly available. The agency is even exploring the possibility of retrofitting existing cars with rear-seat alert systems.

The Technology Landscape: Occupant Detection and End-of-Trip Reminders

There are currently two main types of technology available in vehicles to address the hot car tragedy issue. The first is occupant detection, which utilizes sensors to detect movements or heartbeats of occupants in the back seat and alert the driver accordingly. Some of these systems can even differentiate between the heartbeats of a child and an adult. The second type is the end-of-trip reminder, which alerts the driver to check the back seat before exiting the vehicle, but does not acknowledge the presence of a human being.

The Advocacy Perspective: Prioritizing Occupant Detection

According to Kids and Car Safety, the occupant detection system is the most effective technology in preventing hot car deaths. This technology is currently available in vehicles made by Hyundai and Kia and costs around per vehicle, according to a 2023 report commissioned by NHTSA. If NHTSA passes a rule mandating this technology, automakers would be required to include it in all car models, potentially saving countless lives.

Interim Safety Measures: Protecting Children in the Meantime

While the regulatory process continues, Amber Rollins of Kids and Car Safety has shared some practical tips for drivers to ensure the safety of children in cars. These include always keeping the car doors locked, being extra cautious when there's a change in routine, keeping a stuffed animal towards the front area of the car as a visual reminder, and placing an item you can't start your day without in the back seat to help you remember to check before leaving. Rollins also recommends childproofing the car doors and installing stick-on alarms to prevent children from getting inside the vehicle without the driver's knowledge.