November 04, 2024 Press Release

Automakers: Life-Saving Rear Seat Reminder Systems Available in 263 New Vehicle Models

Technology notifies caregivers when a child is left unattended in the vehicle

Major progress toward industry’s voluntary commitment to install systems in all new vehicles by 2025  

22 percent increase from 2023; five-fold increase since 2019

 

WASHINGTON, DC – Life-saving rear seat reminder systems are now available in 263 vehicle models, according to a new report from Alliance for Automotive Innovation – a 22 percent jump from 2023 and a five-fold increase since a 2019 voluntary commitment by automakers to install rear-seat reminder systems in all new vehicles by 2025.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 29 children died from pediatric vehicular heatstroke in 2023. A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s.

Rear seat reminder systems can help prevent pediatric heatstroke that can occur when a child is left unattended in a vehicle. Systems include:

End-of-trip reminder system: provides a visual and audible alert when occupants are present in the rear seat after the vehicle is turned off.

Occupant sensing system: detects motion in the rear row of a vehicle (using camera or radar sensors) and provides visual and audible alerts to a driver. 

John Bozzella, president and CEO of Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said: “This is outstanding and impactful leadership from the auto industry that we know will prevent preventable tragedies. And the good news? It didn’t require a rule or a mandate from regulators. Every year more vehicles include this safety technology that helps protect vulnerable children left in vehicles. We’re closer than ever to achieving a major safety goal: universal rear-seat reminder systems.”

Read the report HERE.

 

More:

Alliance for Automotive Innovation successfully urged the Federal Communications Commission to approve higher-powered mobile radar operations in the 60 GHz band to enable occupant sensing technology;

heatstroke prevention website with safety resources;

Education campaign with the Washington Nationals.