WASHINGTON — Aftermarket devices intended to prevent heat-stroke deaths among children left in cars aren’t reliable enough to substitute for other measures parents can take, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
The technologies, which include sensors to detect children left in hot cars, are prone to false alarms and are difficult to install correctly, agency Administrator David Strickland said on a conference call with reporters Monday.
“While we feel these devices are very well-intended, we don’t think they can be used as the only countermeasure to make sure that you don’t forget your child behind in a car,” Strickland said.
Heat stroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle-related deaths in the U.S. for children under 14. About 500 children died after being left unattended in vehicles between 1998 and 2009, according to San Francisco State University research. After reaching 49 fatalities in 2010, the number decreased to 33 last year, Strickland said.