Kids and Car Safety helped secure a federal regulation in 2021 requiring new vehicles to include child detection systems. But the rule has still not been finalized.
POTEET, Texas — A national nonprofit working to prevent hot car tragedies is sounding the alarm again after the death of a 4-year-old girl in Poteet. The nonprofit known as Kids and Car Safety said the latest case underscores the urgent need for federal action on child detection technology in vehicles.
Amber Rollins, director of the organization, stated 18 children have died in hot cars so far this year across the U.S. with five of them in Texas.
The most recent tragedy happened Tuesday in Poteet, where a young girl was found dead inside a vehicle parked outside her home. Family members told KENS 5 she had autism and had wandered into the car unnoticed. Authorities have not confirmed those details as the Texas Rangers and Poteet Police continue investigating.
Rollins said about 55% of hot car deaths happen when an otherwise loving, responsible parent or caregiver with no previous history of abuse, neglect, substance abuse, loses awareness of that child in the backseat and leaves them in the car. She also said about 25% percent of hot car tragedies happen when a child gains access to a vehicle on their own and then is unable to get out and not found in time.”
Kids and Car Safety helped secure a federal regulation in 2021 requiring new vehicles to include child detection systems. But more than a year and a half past the deadline, the rule has yet to be finalized.
“These delays are quite literally going to cost children their lives,” Rollins said. “And there’s no excuse.”
The proposed systems would alert drivers if a child is left behind, using technology like motion sensors, radar, and carbon monoxide detectors.
In the meantime, Rollins urges families to stay alert.
“Make sure those keys and key fobs are put away and cars are locked 100 percent of the time,” Rollins said. “Talk to your kids at a very early age and tell them it’s never safe to get in a car without a grownup and you should never be alone inside a car without a grownup.”
To learn more about Kids and Car Safety, go to this link – https://www.kidsandcars.org/