Vehicle Safety

Leading up to National Heatstroke Prevention Day (May 1), Members of Congress, Safety Advocates and Families Affected by Hot Car Deaths Stress the Urgent Need for Effective Hot Car Technology

 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

In November 2021, IIJA was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden.  It includes a provision that addresses hot car tragedies by requiring an ‘audio and visual reminder alert to check the back seat’ in new passenger vehicles. Unfortunately, the provision does not specify the requirement for the system to detect a child alone in a vehicle. Without detection, a system will be inadequate. A reminder alert alone falls short of what is needed to prevent hot car deaths and injuries and creates a false sense of security for families.

read more

Remarks by Cathy Chase at Press Conference on Occupant Detection and Alert Technology to Prevent Hot Car Deaths and Injuries

 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Safety technology that detects and alerts to the presence of unattended children must be required as standard equipment on all new passenger vehicles. Absent requiring that new cars be equipped with a system to detect occupants in the whole passenger compartment, children will continue to be imperiled and families will be left with a false sense of security.

read more

Statement on New Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Ratings Program for Seat Belt Reminders

 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) commends the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for implementing a new ratings program on seat belt reminder systems in passenger vehicles.  The evaluations provide invaluable information to consumers seeking the safest seat belt reminder systems.  The IIHS estimates up to 1,500 lives a year could be saved by improved seat belt reminders.

read more

Statement on Distracted Driving Awareness Month

 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) calls on state legislatures and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to confront distracted driving head-on and eradicate a leading contributor to crash deaths on our nation’s roads.  In 2020, motor vehicle crash fatalities skyrocketed including 3,142 people killed in crashes involving distraction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

read more