Bill to protect kids in and around cars passed by Senate

The U.S. Senate gave parents and safety activists a valued Valentine's gift yesterday when it unanimously passed a car safety bill that will lead to the installation of safety features as standard equipment in all vehicles. The bill, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, was named after two-year-old Cameron, who was killed when he was inadvertently backed over by an SUV driven by his father because the blind zone behind the vehicle made it impossible to see the boy. The House passed this measure late last year. "We are deeply grateful for the support and dedication of the families and that both the House and Senate have now completed action on this important measure," said Ellen Bloom, Director of Federal Policy for Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports. "We hope the President will quickly sign it into law."

The bill addresses three of the most serious causes of preventable injuries and fatalities to young children in and around motor vehicles: being struck by a backing vehicle with an unacceptable blind zone, getting caught in an automatically closing power window; and the ability to place a vehicle in gear without having to depress the brake, resulting in an uncontrolled rollaway. 

Specifically, the legislation directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue new safety standards within specific time periods that will lead to the installation of safety technologies as standard equipment in all vehicles to prevent deaths and injuries in non-traffic situations.  These safety features are already available as standard equipment, upgrades or optional equipment in many makes and models of vehicles.  The bill also requires the department to establish a database of non-crash incidents and develop a program to provide the public with safety information regarding non-traffic dangers to young children. 

The Gulbransens and at least 21 other families whose children were killed or seriously injured in non-traffic vehicle accidents threw their support behind passage of the bill. The children affected ranged in age from eight months to seven years. Most were killed in backover incidents. These families suffered the unimaginable yet worked hard to make the world a safer place for children in and around motor vehicles.

The action was successfully pushed through Congress by a broad coalition that included Kids And Cars, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Public Citizen, Center for Auto Safety, CFA, NCL, the Trauma  Foundation, and Consumers Union.

“With today’s Senate passage, the Congress has spoken clearly—the safety of our children is a top priority," said Janette Fennell, president of Kids and Cars. We heartily agree.

Related video
See Consumer Reports interview with Dr. Greg Gulbransen.

Comments

[Robert Eichel]

I suppose this may be good, but when do we quit trying to legislate people into being responsible and attentive parents. Parents should know where their children are at all times. If the child could be run over, then there needs to be a parent supervising the child at all times.