Battle To End Driveway Child Accidents Hits D.C.
Natalia Zea
(CBS4) WASHINGTON Florida Senator Bill Nelson has taken his fight to prevent children from dying in driveway accidents to Washington this Tuesday.
Nelson stood before the Senate with a poster of a Florida girl that was killed when her parent
accidentally ran over her because could not see her while backing-up through the rearview mirror. He’s trying to pass legislation that would require all automakers to equip their cars with rearview cameras or some other type of sensors to prevent parents or anyone else from backing over their children.
“[It’s] every parent’s nightmare to certainly see their child die, but how much more horrible to lose them and be helpless in preventing a senseless accident,” said Nelson.
The automobile industry is expected to oppose the bill, which is still in a committee.
A similar bill is being debated in the House of Representatives.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Model
law Kids And Cars has developed a model law that can be used as a guide
Click here for a model law background sheet.
Click on one of the states
above to view their state law or proposed bill. If your state does not
have a law about this dangerous practice, let's work together to get one passed!
Please contact us.
March 1,
2008
KCBS News Interviews and Analysis - Keeping Kids Safe Around Cars
watch video |
Advocates hail passage of major child auto safety bill
December
18, 2007
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more |
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Auto
safety bill may get approval
(Detnews.com:
November 15, 2007)
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more |
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Back Over Bill
Oct 2, 2007
Arizona Senator John McCain is sponsoring a bill aimed at preventing child deaths as a result of backing vehicles. This all comes days after a Queen Creek toddler was killed when his father's SUV struck him while backing out of their driveway. Now lawmakers want something done.
Click here to view
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Advocates: Add Safety Measures to Highway Bill
by Kathleen Schalch
July 22, 2005
All Things Considered, July 22, 2005 · As Congress puts finishing touches on the federal highway bill, safety advocates want more attention paid to preventive measures such as additional air bags, stronger roofs and door locks, and cameras that might reduce drivers' blind spots.
http://216.35.221.77/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4766974 |
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| August 19, 2005 |
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Laws
About Unattended Kids In Cars |
Janette Fennell,
founder and president of Kids And Cars was invited to testify about the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration's reauthorization before the Subcommittee
on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection of the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce on June 23, 2005.
Click here to read the transcript
Questions & Answers:
Q: Is there a law in my state regarding leaving children unattended in a vehicle?
How should you go about finding which states have laws about leaving children
unattended in motor vehicles?
A: As you know, each state creates its own set of motor vehicle laws. Please
review the list of states we have identified on this page to see if your state
has a specific law that makes it illegal to leave children unattended in motor
vehicles. You will also see that some states have proposed a bill and legislation
may be pending. Please Contact us if your state does not have a law and you
would like to help propose and support a bill to your state legislators.
Q: Wouldn’t all children be protected by state child endangerment
or child neglect laws?
A: Yes and no. When a law enforcement officer comes upon the scene where
a child has been left alone in a vehicle, they only have two choices if the
state
does
not have a specific law that makes it illegal to leave children unattended
in a vehicle. (1) They can find the parent or caregiver and give them a scolding;
or (2) charge the parent or caregiver with child endangerment or child neglect.
In many cases, these two choices are not what is needed. A ‘scolding’ will
probably not change the dangerous behavior and the child endangerment or neglect
charge may seem too harsh. We believe that law enforcement officers need another “tool” to
prevent children from being left alone in vehicles and that ‘tool’ is
a specific law against this practice. It enables them and the community to
educate parents about the dangers, provide fine monies to support education
campaigns and involve parents in parenting classes to better understand the
dangers of leaving children unsupervised.
Q: Where they exist, are these laws enforced?
A: As for enforcement of these laws (or any other motor vehicle law), it is
sporadic and often based on coincidence (being in the right place at the right
time), opportunity (having the time to enforce motor vehicle law) and priority
(some laws are more strictly enforced than others).
Q: What should the public do when they see a child alone inside a car?
A: If, at any time, you are concerned about the welfare or safety of a child
(or an adult), please contact the police. Once notified, they become responsible
for taking action.
Wait for the parents or caregiver to return to the vehicle if you can. At a
minimum, leave a copy of the "Not Even For a Minute" brochure on
their windshield.
