Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
With recent tragedies making headlines, more parents are becoming aware of the dangers of leaving their children in hot cars.
In some cases, parents forgetfully have left their children behind or did not realize that their children crawled into a hot car until it is too late. Now innovation is responding to the dangers of hot cars with technology that could prevent accidental death. According to a report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, new technologies are making advancements to prevent heat stroke and to alarm parents of children who may have been left behind.
Researchers have found that once the windows are up and air conditioning has been turned off, a car can quickly rise in temperature, over 120 degrees on an 80 degree day. Leaving children even for a few minutes can be deadly. Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys are dedicated to raising awareness to prevent future accidents and injuries. We are also abreast of recent trends and innovations to ensure car and road safety. Here are some technological advancements, highlighted by CBS News, that could help remind parents and other caretakers to ensure children are out of a parked vehicle:
Wireless proximity sensors: Proximity sensors include two devices, one carried by the parent and one activated when a child is in a car seat. When the two devices become separated, an alarm will sound, making sure that parents are always with a child who is buckled into a car seat. The monitor is installed on the car seat and the other part is carried on a keychain. Once the device is activated when buckled, it is digitally hooked to the caretaker. The alarm will sound if the devices are separated by over a duration of 6 minutes by 15 feet. There are other monitors that detect a child’s presence in a seat cushion.
Smart Car Seats: A “smart car seat” has iAlert technology that communicates between a smartphone and a vehicle. The car seat has sensors that monitor temperature, angle, and motion to determine if the seat becomes too hot. It can also send a notice to ensure that the seat is properly installed or if a child has become unbuckled. Parents have viewed the device as an extra precaution to keep children safe.
Critics of this new technology point out that it only works if you remember the device and make sure they are properly activated. They also only work if a child is buckled into the seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 47% of kids that die in hot cars are not buckled into car seats. Many of these children have crawled into vehicles to play and cannot get themselves out. Safety experts hope that car manufacturers will develop additional technology that can detect motion or breathing in a parked and overheated vehicle. This technology could also save individuals who are suffering from a medical condition, the elderly, or even pets who are left behind. Some parents have put GPS trackers on their children to help keep track of where they are in case they go missing or crawl into a parked car.
Freeman Injury Law — 1-800-561-7777 for a free appointment to discuss your rights.
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Enforcing Coblentz Agreement Requires Experienced Lawyer, May 23, 2014, Deerfield Beach Car Accident Lawyer Blog