By Kellie Meyer
WASHINGTON (Gray DC)
“I still wake up every morning and cry. I still gaze at my picture that I carry with me," Miles Harrison said. It was a hot July day. Miles Harrison drove to work, forgetting to drop his 21-month-old son Chase off at daycare. Chase died after being left in a sweltering car for 9 hours. Miles was acquitted of manslaughter. But has never forgiven himself. "Just think it was a bad dream," he added. Now, nine years later, Miles and his wife Carol are on a mission to make sure this doesn’t happen to anymore families. “We need technology to remind, just like to remind you to put your seatbelt on, just like all of these kids of things.” “You can’t afford for it to happen the one time because the one time could be the final time," Carol said. The Harrisons are teaming up with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill. They are encouraging car companies to install technology that would alert drivers when someone is in the back seat after the car is turned off. It’s called the HOT CARS Act. “The car companies and the auto alliance continue to resist. General Motors has shown some leadership but everyone else is slowing this up and it’s ridiculous because people are dying," Rep Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) said. The bill is facing some resistance. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers says it's reviewing the proposed legislation, but are concerned how long the proposal will take to get through. They believe the better approach is public awareness. For Miles, he hopes his story, will help. “They will not have to live through what I have caused my family to live through and it will be worth it.” According to KidsandCars.Org - on average 37 children die in hot cars every year. 18 have already been reported this year. Congressman Ryan and other bipartisan lawmakers are expected to continue their push for this bill when they return to Capitol Hill next week.
