Federal Laws
The Hot Cars Act (calls for technology to prevent hot car deaths) – learn more
PARK IT Act (auto-shut-off for vehicles with keyless ignitions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning) – learn more
Regulatory Accountability Act & Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017 (REINS Act) – learn more
Major Successes
Providing the leadership, strategy, determination and just plain hard work it takes to pass a Federal Law is the goal of many organizations. Child safety should be a bi-partisan issue, but with so many diverse agendas in play at the same time, it’s rare after years or even decades of unending efforts to be successful. KidsAndCars.org is quite unique in having been the driving force behind six (6) significant safety advances to keep all of America’s children safe.
• Due to the efforts of KidsAndCars.org (formerly Trunk Releases Urgently Needed Coalition (TRUNC) all cars sold or leased in the US beginning with model year 2002 have an emergency glow-in-the-dark trunk release inside the trunk compartment. KidsAndCars.org is not aware of any fatalities in the trunk of a car with this safety feature… Not one (read the regulation)
• Dangerous rocker and toggle power window switches have now been eliminated. All new vehicles manufactured on or after October 1, 2008 must have the safer ‘pull up to close/push down to open’ switches. (read the regulation)
• A brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) device is now standard equipment on all vehicles. This interlock device prevents a vehicle from being put into gear without the driver’s foot on the brake.
• After decades of our government ignoring vehicle-related incidents that take place off public roads and highways, KidsAndCars.org was able to help pass a provision that requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to begin collecting data about incidents that take place on private property (mainly in parking lots or driveways).
• The stand-alone Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act was passed into law and signed by President Bush in February of 2008 requiring ALL vehicles sold or leased in the US to come with a rearview camera as standard equipment. KidsAndCars.org knew how urgently a standard was needed based on the number of backover deaths and serious injuries they kept adding to their database. It is literally impossible to avoid hitting something you cannot see behind your vehicle and children under the age of 5 are the most at risk. It’s absolutely impossible to believe, but until now there has NEVER been a standard about what a driver should be able to see when backing up their vehicle.
• The importance of seat belts in saving lives is indisputable. We should do everything possible to get people to buckle up. Yet why are seat belt reminder systems only found in the driver’s seat and front passenger seat? Our children are required to travel in the backseat of vehicles, but are not given the same safety protections as front seat passengers. KidsAndCars.org made sure the 2012 Federal Transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) contains a provision requiring seat belt reminder systems must now be found in all seating positions. Rear seat reminder systems can both remind the driver and rear seat occupants to buckle up and alert the driver when a passenger unbuckles their seat belt while the vehicle is moving.
