Hartford advocates push for hot car alert systems

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - Advocates shared reminders about the dangers of leaving children in hot cars at an event on Monday.

Advocates want the federal government to finalize a rule that would require new vehicles to create an alert system. That system would remind drivers to check the back seat after turning the engine off.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved the rule back in 2021. The rule was supposed to be finalized by Nov. 2023.

Almost 40 children die in hot cars in the United States each year, according to Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s office.

Blumenthal participated in Monday’s event, which took place at Hartford’s Sisson Avenue Fire House shortly after 11:30 a.m.

“This detection sensor provides effective technology, but only a limited number of car manufactures have implemented it voluntarily,” Blumenthal said. “So, the time is now for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require car manufacturers do the regulation, do the job.”