[Old Lady]

How terrible.

Car manufacturers need to make something that will alert drivers when a kid is left in a van or car. Car seats that would plug/snap into something that made a noise, or SOMETHING.

[petpeeve]

Damn! Argh.....why, why, why???

[new cruelty]

Good idea. I don't understand how this happens so many times. I would think people would remember they left another person behind in the car, without needing to be reminded, but if such a gadget will help them remember, then I am all for it.

[BlackRazor]

Car manufacturers need to make something that will alert drivers when a kid is left in a van or car.

A jury ruled against a car manufacturer in a case like that, saying ventilation was inadequate, and that they should have provided some sort of failsafe. Ridiculous, if you ask me. Someone forgets and leaves a kid in a locked car, and it's the car manufacturer's fault?

[DesignerChick]

The Driver is an imbecile. No device will ever fix stupidity.

[L98Fiero]

I would argue that it is the responsibility of the van driver, since the kids are in his charge, to tour the van before exiting it to ensure no kids were left aboard. It would only take 10 seconds. That should be, and probably is, SOP.

[Feiny]

Why should car amkers be responsible for this? Maybe the makers of car seats could add a feature....but it is the adults who leave the kids that are to blame.

[Lady Jag]

If it has been measured and found that vehicles in general have inadequate ventilation, a carbon monoxide detector might serve as a way to alarm a vehicle.

[newzjunkey]

That's ridiculous. There's no way a car manufacturer can do this or ought to have this responsibility. This was a DAY CARE van and all too often it is a child's own PARENT who forgets the child in a locked car.

All of these types of cases demand charges to be brought (and too many don't).

What you advocate is a nanny solution and the sort of legal liability no manufacturer would dare take on short of a government mandate.

[iconoclast]

Car manufacturers need to make something that will alert drivers when a kid is left in a van or car. Car seats that would plug/snap into something that made a noise, or SOMETHING.

How bout something revolutionary like a parent at home, and school districts designed so that most kids walk back and forth to school?

[Xenalyte]

There's already such an invention. It's called "eyes."

[Young Werther]

I developed a "system" which could be retrofitted to all vehicles. It could be priced in the $29.95 range. If states would mandidate that day cares have my "Guardian"(R)(C) then there would be a market for over 10 million cars, (preliminary estimate). It could be manufactured in China for under 5 bucks and sold through SAM'S, WalMart, Pep Boys etc automotive centers. A car insurance rebate and other incentives, including no child left behind tax credits could make this a Ron Popiel-like infomercial HIT!

But I could find no takers!

[RinaseaofDs]

I'm probably stupid for suggesting this in an open forum:

Seats already have pressure sensors that can tell when somebody is in a seat. You back this up with motion sensors and/or audio sensors. In the condition of the car being off, or off and locked:

If any of these three inputs are positive, all the windows in the car roll down automatically, the fans engage, and the alarm goes off.

[JoeSixPack1]

Car manufacturers need to....Build cars.

This childs death falls squarly on the shoulders of a 'PERSON'.

Prayers to the family.