NHTSA tested aftermarket, prototype, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) unattended child reminder systems available for purchase or testing in the summer of 2020. Generalized functional assessment methodologies to document the systems’ capabilities were developed. The study intended to assess new systems and technologies introduced since the previous study was conducted in 2015. Nine systems representing the variety of underlying technologies were tested. The results showed that each aftermarket and prototype system could meet their own design criteria and alert the caregiver when the vehicle was turned off with the child still in the vehicle. In addition, the OEM systems met criteria and alerted caregivers with displays or audio alerts as designed. Based on the observations made in the study, all the systems worked as designed to alert caregivers when children are left unattended in vehicles, although the systems performed differently in addressing the variety of potential real-world situations, some of which were encountered in the Special Crash Investigations case reviews of pediatric vehicular heatstroke fatalities in 2019.
This observation study among rental car customers was conducted at the Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, during the period August 4 - December 12,...
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