New General Motors Tech Can Help Avoid Child Heatstroke Deaths
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At the debut of the 2017 GMC Acadia, General Motors was proud to introduce one of the first-of-its-kind technology.
Upon exiting the 2017 Acadia, the vehicle will let out a small reminder to check the rear seats for any forgotten items. GMC stated the main purpose of the technology is to ensure drivers don’t forget anything in a casual matter.
But, GM product chief, Mark Reuss, also stated to Reuters it can help save children’s lives.
“Too many children are inadvertently left behind in vehicles, often with tragic results. It’s hard to fathom but it does happen, leading to dozens of fatal heatstrokes in children under 14 every year,” said Reuss.
The system “does not detect the presence of a child in the back seat but as a simple extra reminder to look in the rear seat on the way out of the vehicle regardless of what may be there,” he added.
Though the system doesn’t detect a specific item, or human, in particular, Reuss stated the capabilities could be added in the future. Between 1998 and 2014, there were an average of 38 U.S. deaths a year in hot cars, according to San Jose State University.
We’re all for additional safety, but we still hold a sliver of faith in humanity that adults are able to understand leaving a child, pet or any living thing in a hot vehicle isn’t a fathomable choice.
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Although GM is forward thinking for this solution, the gran mayority of those cases where children was left in a parked vehicle were in imports, not American. So GM should post that fact and convince family drivers to switch to the GM Acadia and save lives.
Now that GM has introduced this to us I think other companies may follow suit. I also wonder if the front center air bag carriers over too. That was also something I was hoping to see be picked up by the auto industry and never was.
Again, GM always ahead of the game in terms of technology and innovated design. Good work!