Mary "Missy" Cummings, a former senior safety advisor to the federal agency, said the regulation likely hasn't come out because of other agency priorities. "The tech is there," she said in an email, noting it's available in some cars. "This is clearly a political/bureaucracy problem."
Advocates said they expect a preliminary rule in August. The agency did not immediately confirm.
The radar technology is already being added to cars in Europe, Kurdock said, and is available in some cars sold in the U.S. Among those is Hyundai, which announced it would begin installing "Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert" systems beginning with its 2022 models.
Russell Datz, a Volvo spokesperson said the company's EX90 model would have radar technology to detect occupants and will be able to detect children who enter on their own, as long as the main battery has enough charge.
Advocacy group warns: 'It’s not if, but how many and when'
Until radar technology becomes widespread, Fennell said she expects to have to document more cases like Armani's over the summer.
"It’s not if, but how many and when," she said.
Over 1,050 children have died in hot cars nationwide since 1990, according to Kids and Car Safety, and over 7,300 survived with injuries. Almost 90% of children who die are 3 or younger. Most were unknowingly left by a parent or caregiver.
"We know right now there are parents who love their babies and by the end of the summer they won’t be with them anymore," Fennell said.
Deaths can happen in any month of the year, she said. A 1-year-old left in a car outside Atlanta in October was the last person to die in a hot car in 2023; the first was a 2-year-old left in a car in Louisiana in February, according to Kids and Car Safety data.
Since 1990, Texas had the most deaths with 156. Only Alaska has not recorded a death, according to the group's data.
From 88 to 140 degrees in 60 minutes
The temperature inside a car on a 73-degree day will shoot up to 100 in 25 minutes, according to the National Weather Service.
The high in Columbia, South Carolina on May 3 was an unseasonably warm 88 degrees, according to weather data. At 88 degrees, a car will heat up to nearly 140 in an hour.
The local National Weather Service office issued a warning at 8 a.m. about the dangers of hot cars for children. “NEVER leave people or pets alone in a closed car,” it read.
Armani was last seen at 11:30 a.m. “wearing pampers diapers with beaded braids,” according to the Sheriff's report. "She wasn't in the car for very long," said Deputy Jamie Burton, before deputies found her at 1:48 p.m.
Trapped inside oven-like cars:With summer at its hottest, here's what to know about the danger of kids left in vehicles
Tips to avoiding a tragic heat accident with your child
Here's what experts say you should do to prevent a tragic accident:
- Place a visual reminder that your child is with you, such as a diaper bag, in the front seat.
- Put an important item you need to start your day in the back seat, such as your cell phone, and make it a habit to always open the back door when you get out of the car.
- Ask your childcare providers to call you if your child isn't dropped off as scheduled, because parents sometimes think they have dropped their child off and go to work, accidentally leaving them in their car seats all day.
- Fennell also said a tip she likes to give is to keep a stuffed animal in your child's car seat at all times. When your child is put in the seat, the stuffed animal goes on the front passenger seat as a visual reminder.
Contributing Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
Original Article LINK
