FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2021
CONTACT: Pete Daniels / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C)
Statement of Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), On National Heatstroke Prevention Day, May 1
Available, inexpensive technology can prevent ‘hot car’ deaths.
Time for Congress to take action.
Year round, children die in ‘hot car’ incidents, but as spring gives way to summer’s heat, the risk of children perishing in hot cars begins to rise. While many factors contribute to these horrific tragedies, technology provides a ready solution to this perennial safety threat. Inexpensive technology to detect the presence of an unattended child in a vehicle and alert to their presence exists today. The Hot Cars Act, which directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue a rule to make this technology standard equipment in new cars, will soon be reintroduced and Congress should take immediate action to advance it. The legislative language was included in the major transportation bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support last year, the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2). This National Heatstroke Prevention Day, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is united with Kids and Car Safety, tireless victim advocates and numerous other supporters to urge lawmakers to protect innocent children and pets and keep families whole by bringing this legislation across the finish line this year.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of consumer, medical, public health, law enforcement and safety groups and insurance companies and agents working together to make America’s roads safer. Advocates’ mission is the adoption of federal and state laws, policies and programs that prevent motor vehicle crashes, save lives, reduce injuries, and contain costs.
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