The 2017 GMC Acadia arrives with a smaller overall package, more creature comforts an all-new mission: conquer the hotter-than-ever midsize crossover segment, and do it well.
Among those features on its quest, GMC has been kind enough to look out for its customers with a rear seat reminder system, the subject of today’s Feature Spotlight.
“Acadia drivers live busy lives with demanding schedules, and the Rear Seat Reminder helps protect the things we care about most,” said Tricia Morrow, GM global safety strategy engineer. “Whether it’s your lunch, laptop, pet or most importantly, your child, it’s easier than it seems to forget what’s in the back seat when moving between life’s events. With this new feature, we are leading the charge to address this ongoing problem.”
We’d love to have more faith in the human race, but sometimes poor judgement occurs. Every year in the United States, half of children under the age of 14 who die of in-vehicle heat stroke do so as a result of being forgotten about. The 2017 Acadia wants to be your better half.
The system activates after a rear door has been opened or closed within the last ten minutes before the vehicle is started. The next time the vehicle is turned off after a door activation, the Acadia sounds five audible chimes and displays a message in the driver information center that reads, “Rear Seat Reminder / Look in Rear Seat.”
With the technology, GMC hopes it has engineered a small step towards curbing forgetfulness, and maybe to even help save a life.
Comments
Should this not say put down the damn cell phone and pay attention to what you are doing?
It is sad as the more advanced we get the more we regress in many areas.
One step forward two steps back at times.
General Motors pride themselves equipped their new cars with 4G LTE and OnStar; thus, after the rear car-seat alert has been given to the driver and is ignored, the vehicle should automatically alert the local Police of the situation that a child has been left in a vehicle and is in need of assistance because it’s a race against time.
I don’t think the system knows if there is an actual child in the back seat. It’s simply a reminder to look back before you exit. It only knows that you’ve opened the back door for whatever reason and it alerts you that you might be leaving behind whatever you put in there. It might be nothing, you simply opened the door to take a look at something, or it might be a child or a pet or simply a bag of toilet paper.
It is a useful tool, especially on the heals of another child dying in Iowa couple day ago, but I see a lot of room for improvement.
The best system would be if it knew exactly what’s back there and slapped you on the side of the head right before you were about to leave your child in the back seat and went on about your day.
Can this feature be turned off? I don’t have any small children or dogs, but I throw stuff in the back seat from time to time, and don’t want to be reminded about it as some of it is intended to stay back there for another time.
Did you ever receive a receive any feedback to the question about turning this feature off? I have the same issue with my 2019 Chevy 2500. it is very random and annoying for sure! thank you for your time and look forward to hearing back from you
It should also remind us that cigarettes cause cancer, don’t run around the pool with scissors, and Trust the Government!
How about rear seat belt reminders (similar to the front seat belt reminders)?
This question is relevant regarding driving with kids on the back seat.
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