The death of a 3-year-old in Florida this week, apparently of heatstroke, is drawing new attention to the problem of children left alone in motor vehicles on hot days. Washington bureau reporter Alberto Pimienta filed the following report.
Rep. Peter King is trying to stop children from dying inside hot cars.
In one video, you can see police struggle to save the life of a baby trapped inside.
"It sounds hard to believe, but we've had any number of cases where parents, just whatever reason, forgot the child was in the back," King said.
So far this year, 32 children have died inside hot cars.
The inside of a car can get extremely hot. While it is 85 degrees outside, inside the car, in the first five minutes, it can reach 100 degrees; in the first 20 minutes, 115 degrees; and in an hour, an incredible 135 degrees.
There’s urgency on Capitol Hill. King is co-sponsoring the Hot Cars Act.
"We would be directing the transportation secretary to enact a rule requiring auto manufacturers to include these devices in the car, which would set off a signal if anyone is left in the car after the car is turned off," King said.
General Motors already includes technology that reminds parents a child is left behind. But King says other carmakers must follow suit.
"The auto manufacturers always resist," King said. "I was involved several years ago in having cameras and warning systems put on the back."
The congressman tells us lawmakers will not be deterred. Just like with rear cameras, he says it will take a couple of years, but in the near future, a majority of vehicles will have technology so no one goes through terrifying moments like this ever again.