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Deaths decreasing, but hot cars remain a danger to children
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed routines especially when it comes to things such as transporting children. So, fortunately, the tragic loss of children's lives in hot cars is down this year.
Auto Safety: At the foundation of the House infrastructure bill
This spring, despite the entire country essentially being locked down or working from home and rush hour traffic becoming a distant memory, the long-standing public health crisis of auto fatalities remained. In fact, even with far fewer vehicles on the road, car crash rates increased in states across the country. Now, with consumers saying they are more likely to drive than take public transportation in a post-COVID lockdown world, it is more vital than ever to address the unacceptable, but preventable, death toll of 100 lives a day that motor vehicle crashes take on U.S. families.
Protecting Children: Preventing Deaths From Hot Cars
The Institute for Childhood Preparedness and Kids and Cars have teamed up to educate the public about the dangers of leaving children alone in hot cars. Last year we created a helpful flyer with heatstroke prevention facts and actionable tips if you see a child alone in a hot car. Unfortunately, there were 53 hot car deaths in 2019, and there have already been six hot car deaths in 2020. According to KidsandCars.org, over 940 children have died in hot cars nationwide since 1990. Even the best of parents or caregivers can unknowingly leave a sleeping baby in a car, and the result can be injury or even death.
Momentum for an Effort to Save Children From Sweltering Cars
There was reason for optimism last June. The Hot Cars Act of 2019 appeared to be making some progress. The bill would require a device that could warn drivers and car owners of a child left behind in a car or one who had gotten into a parked car. For Janette Fennell of KidsAndCars.org, who has championed such legislation for decades, the bill was an opportunity to curb an epidemic of childhood hyperthermia deaths. Each year, dozens of children die of heatstroke in cars.
SCHAKOWSKY AND PALLONE CHAMPION AUTO SAFETY PROVISIONS
Today, Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced the inclusion of critical auto safety provisions in H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. The provisions will improve auto safety and will help prevent tragic deaths from drunk driving, children being left in hot cars, carbon monoxide poisoning, and unsafe limousines.
