With child hot car deaths in the news in recent weeks, automakers say they will commit to making rear seat reminder systems standard equipment on almost all passenger vehicles sold in the United States by the 2025 model year, Detroit Free Press reports.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers — trade groups representing General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Toyota and others — announced the effort in a joint statement this week.
“Under this commitment, automakers will innovate by introducing a wide range of approaches to help parents and caregivers remember to check the back seat as they leave a vehicle. At a minimum, these prompts will include a combination of auditory and visual alerts that will activate after a driver turns off a vehicle,” according to a news release.
The announcement follows a particularly deadly stretch this summer, with 10 children dying in this gruesome fashion in just 20 days.
So far this year 39 children have died in the U.S. after being left alone in cars during hot weather. The advocacy group Kids and Cars says a record 54 children were killed last year.
Twenty automakers representing 98% of new vehicles sold have agreed to install reminders in an effort to stop heatstroke deaths.
Vehicles would give drivers audible and visual alerts to check back seats every time they turn off the ignition.
This is so important more so then seatbelts