Recently, we at the Newsleaders published an editorial in support of a proposal called the HOT CARS Act, which stands for Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats.
The legislative bill would require a warning system in vehicles so drivers would be made aware if a baby or toddler was accidentally left inside the vehicle. We think it’s a great idea, long overdue, as there is nothing more horrible to imagine than an innocent young child being suffocated by the heat inside a vehicle and dying an agonizing death.
That editorial was read by Michael Dale-Stein, senior advisor for communications for Minnesota Sen. Al Franken. Dale-Stein informed the Newsleaders Franken is about to introduce that bill for consideration by the U.S. Congress. He will introduce the bill along with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D.-Conn.)
The bill will direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require cars come equipped with technology to alert the driver to check the back seat when the car is turned off. It also asks the NHTSA to study and report on options and best practices for retrofitting existing vehicles with that kind of technology.
The good news is the technology already exists and is already available in some vehicles, such as GM’s 2017 and 2018 models. Thank you, GM. Now let’s hope the warning becomes standard on all cars everywhere, including cars retrofitted with such technology.
An average of 37 children die each year after being left in cars on hot or sub-zero days. More than 700 children have died in that horrible way since 1998.
As Franken put it:
“Each summer, we hear heart-wrenching stories about children whose lives end far too early because they were accidentally trapped in the back seat of a hot car. We can do something to prevent these terrible tragedies. This common-sense legislation would make sure there are measures in place to alert you if your child is left in the back seat. I want to see this life-saving technology become the standard in our cars.”
So do we, Sen. Franken, so do we.
Thank you Sens. Franken and Blumenthal for pushing for this bill. Let’s all of us show our support every chance we get for the HOT CARS Act.
