GM Trying to Stop Parents From Leaving Kids in the Backseat
GM is expanding the availability of its Rear Seat Reminder technology.
Designed to remind drivers to check the back seat as they exit their vehicles, Rear Seat Reminder aims to cut down on child deaths that result from being left behind in vehicles. According to the American automaker, 39 children died from heatstroke this year as result of being left in vehicles or gaining access to an unattended vehicle, a 60-percent increase compared to last year. The system, which first debuted earlier this year on the all-new 2017 GMC Acadia, monitors rear door usage to remind drivers to check their seat seats before walking away from their vehicles.
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Models that will offer Rear Seat Reminder include: 2017 Buick Lacrosse, 2017 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, 2017 Cadillac CT6, 2017 Chevrolet Cruze and Cruze hatchback, 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2017 Chevrolet Suburban, 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, 2017 Chevrolet Colorado, 2017 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, 2017 GMC Sierra, 2017 GMC Canyon, 2018 Cadillac XT5, 2018 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V, 2018 Cadillac ATS and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. Additional 2018 model year vehicles will be announced at a later date.
“GM’s Rear Seat Reminder feature is an initial step to use technology to help remind drivers to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle under certain conditions,” said Jeff Boyer, vice president of GM Global Vehicle Safety. “We want to help everyone to take one simple, extra step. That’s why Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac will offer the Rear Seat Reminder on a broad range of vehicles, from small cars to full-size SUVs and everything in between.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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I would have replaced the word 'parents' with 'people' in the title, since leaving your child behind in a car seat makes a person one shitty excuse for a parent.