Assembly Member Marcos A. Crespo & Senator Jamaal Bailey Introduce New Legislation Requiring New Cars to be Equipped with Technology that Warns Drivers of Babies or Toddlers in Backseats
Unfortunately, tragic accidents involving infants and small children being left too long or forgotten in passenger vehicles during hot summer months and cold winters reoccur all too often. Disastrously, many of these accidents end in the heartbreaking loss of life. The recent tragic accident in the Bronx resulted in the loss of one year old twins Luna and Phoenix after being mistakenly forgotten in their car seats for 8 hours. Heat stroke, hyperthermia, dehydration, etc., can cause serious harm or death within a short while of a child being left behind in a locked motor vehicle. In addition, unattended small children have accidentally locked themselves inside cars without a parent or guardian’s knowledge. Studies show that a car can heat up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit within one hour in sunny weather. Each minute is crucial in preventing an unnecessary loss of life.
“The tragic loss of Luna & Phoenix in The Bronx last week has shaken us all to our core. As a parent and legislator I can’t begin to fathom the pain and suffering of the family. But I can understand that this and similar tragedies could be prevented with existing technology that should be mandated in all new vehicles, alerting drivers of the possible presence of an individual or even a pet remaining in the car” said Assemblyman Marcos Crespo (D-Bronx).
Senator Jamaal Bailey (D-Bronx) added, “The loss of Luna and Phoenix this past week was a sad day for all of us. As a father of two, my heart hurts for the family of these angels, and as a legislator, I must respond with forward thinking legislation that looks to prevent future tragedies as this from happening. Technology does so much in our lives- let’s use it to save innocent lives as well.”
Technology to warn drivers of backseat occupants does exist. Drivers should be immediately contacted when a car’s functioning system detects any presence in the back seat when the motor engine is turned off. The new legislation will require all motor vehicles ten thousand pounds or less, registered after July 1st, 2021 to be equipped with a functioning system that can detect and warn of any presence of an occupant in a rear seat if a seat belt is still latched or a weight of twenty pounds or more is sensed when the car engine is off.
