The Association of Global Automakers and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers have jointly pledged to fight incidents of heatstroke among children through the installation of Rear Sear Reminder Systems in newer vehicles.
These systems would remind drivers to check for children in their rear seats. The effort follows years of high profile cases involving children left alone in vehicles, which has often led to fatal outcomes. Studies have shown that it takes a matter of minutes for vehicles’ interior temperatures to begin to spike, and children’s bodies heat up much faster than those of adults, leaving them more vulnerable.
The new systems could take several forms, but the automakers insist that, at a minimum, these prompts will include a mix of audible and visual alerts that activate once a vehicle is turned off. They hope to have those systems in place no later than Model Year 2025.
“Automakers have been exploring ways to address this safety issue and this commitment underscores how such innovations and increased awareness can help children right now,” Alliance Interim President and CEO David Schwietert said. “Automakers have come together to develop a pathway forward, which not only incorporates existing systems but also supports new, innovative approaches.”
The two auto groups worked together on the commitment, which they say will lead to safety features being available sooner than would have been possible under a government rulemaking process.
“Children die each year from heatstroke suffered when left unattended in the back seat of passenger vehicles,” John Bozzella, President and CEO of Global Automakers, said. “As most of these deaths are caused by children being unintentionally left in vehicles, our members are taking action to help prevent these tragic losses by adding rear-seat reminder systems to prompt parents and caregivers to check the back seat before exiting their car.”
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Consumer Protection and Commerce Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said in a Sept. 4 joint statement that while the move by the automakers was a step in the right direction, Congress would continue to debate the issue.
“Congress must be vigilant and continue to pursue legislation that requires these companies to take the necessary steps to protect children and holds the companies accountable,” the lawmakers said.