Summer driving season may be winding down, but the heat is still scorching many parts of the country. Automakers are joining forces to protect the youngest passengers. Members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers have agreed to introduce a rear seat reminder system in essentially all cars and trucks by Model Year 2025 or sooner. Some vehicles already have this feature. The goal is to remind parents and caregivers to check the back seat as they leave a vehicle. A combination of auditory and visual alerts will activate after a driver turns off the vehicle.
The move comes after repeated situations where a child dies after being left behind in a car or truck. The experts point out a vehicle’s interior temperature can rise nearly 20 degrees in 10 minutes, and a child’s body heats up faster than an adult’s.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers account for nearly 100 percent of the U.S. light-duty vehicle sales. While this initiative covers new vehicles, they point out cell phone apps and some child car seats include alarm features.
