WASHINGTON, D.C. – On National Heatstroke Prevention Day, a coalition of over 100 grieving families and the advocacy group Kids and Car Safety are intensifying their call for action, urging U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy to mandate lifesaving occupant detection technology in all new vehicles. In a letter delivered today, the group emphasized that despite more than two decades of public education efforts, children continue to die in hot cars at alarming and record-breaking rates.
The mandated safety standard, which has been long overdue, would require every new vehicle to be equipped with technology capable of detecting a child left inside —a solution advocates say is proven, available, and affordable.
“After more than two decades of public education, children are still dying at alarming and record-breaking rates. We know what works. Technology can—and must—be an essential part of the solution,” stated Janette Fennell, founder and president of Kids and Car Safety.
The statistics surrounding these preventable tragedies are stark:
- More than 1,125 children have died in hot cars since 1990.
- At least 7,500 more children have survived with injuries, many of which are life-altering.
“Hot car tragedies are every parent’s worst nightmare. And they don’t happen because someone didn’t love their child enough,” Fennell continued. “They happen because we’re human, and even the strongest love can’t compete with the limits of human memory.”
The advocates point out that modern vehicles already incorporate numerous reminder technologies, such as alerts for forgotten headlights, oil changes, tire pressure, low fuel, and unbuckled seatbelts. They argue that if these systems are used to protect vehicles, similar technology should be mandated to protect children.
Neuroscience, they emphasize, confirms that human memory is fallible, and when a sleeping child is unintentionally left behind in a vehicle, the consequences can be fatal.
To further their message, Kids and Car Safety, in collaboration with partners like Safe Kids Worldwide and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), is hosting a public awareness campaign and demonstrating occupant detection technology in Jacksonville, FL. Supporters nationwide are encouraged to participate by sharing graphics, photos, and safety tips on social media using the hashtags #HeatstrokeKills, #HotCarsKill, and #LookBeforeYouLock.
How You Can Help:
- Share materials from Kids and Car Safety on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, newsletters, and blogs.
- Join the online conversation using the suggested social media posts.
- If you see a child or pet alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately.
- Ask childcare providers to contact you if your child does not arrive as planned.
While advocating for the crucial safety regulation, families are also urged to adopt the “Look Before You Lock” safety tips to cultivate lifesaving habits. One simple yet effective strategy is to place a stuffed animal in a child’s car seat. Each time the child is buckled in, the toy should be moved to the front seat as a visual reminder that the child is in the back.
“Every day that passes without action puts more children at risk. This is a national crisis with a known solution. It’s time to use the technology that’s already in our hands,” Fennell concluded.
