Summer Safety Awareness: Heat-Related Illnesses · Fireworks · Swimming · Boating · Bicycling · Outdoor Cooking · Sunscreens · KidsAndCars.org: Fact Sheet PDF · Donate
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is the agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation with the mission of saving lives, preventing injuries, and reducing economic costs, has already missed publishing the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) self-imposed deadline. With children at unnecessary risk of death and injury every day, it is urgent that NHTSA meets the Congressionally mandated deadline for the final rule to be issued in November of this year.
“Since 1990, more than 1,000 children have died in a hot car. We know that technology exists to alert a driver when a child or even a pet is left in their car. You get a warning when you leave your keys in the ignition. You should get a warning when a child is left in the backseat. I am proud that my legislation to require auto makers to include this safety feature in all new vehicles was signed into law as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. We are urging the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) to swiftly do the rulemaking for this law,” said Congressional Rep. Jan Schakowsky, ranking member of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
More than 1,050 children have died from heatstroke in hot cars since 1990, and at least another 7,300 survived with varying types and severities of injuries, according to data collected by Kids and Car Safety.
“We simply cannot let the DOT and Secretary Buttigieg ignore these Congressionally mandated requirements as children continue to die in hot cars,” said Janette Fennell, president and founder of Kids and Car Safety. She continued, “No one thinks a hot car tragedy can happen to them, which is why we need effective technology as standard equipment in all vehicles as quickly as possible. It is heartbreaking to know there are families out there right now with their beautiful children who will lose them by summer’s end in a preventable hot car tragedy. Enough is Enough! We must DETECT TO PROTECT.”