[2Hot4You]

This almost never happened before it was "decided" that having kids in the front seat, rear facing, was verboten.

Not an excuse for anyone who "forgets", but rather another example of why more law/regulation is generally NOT better, and why the bureaucrats need to stop doing good to us.

[utahagen]

I agree with you completely: let people make their own decisions about risk. People are fallible and when they are on autopilot and forget a step in their routine, they may not realize until it's too late. I have to imagine that this mother is suicidal.

[Tall_Texan]

This almost never happened before it was "decided" that having kids in the front seat, rear facing, was verboten.

Good point. Out of sight, out of mind. Idiot legislators mandate the baby must go in the back seat and face *away* from the driver (for the sake of the children, don't you know), so it really isn't shocking that more mothers forget the kid is there. When the child was riding face-forward in the front seat, that would be far less likely to happen - although it could still happen.

[Maurice Tift]

This almost never happened before it was "decided" that having kids in the front seat, rear facing, was verboten.

  I was about to say the same thing. A child, out of sight, in the back seat - it's surprising that this doesn't happen more often. I think I'm still allowed to carry my cats to the vet in the front seat (in a carrying case) - but children must be in the back seat by law (I wonder how many states have this law - we have uniform laws in most states due to the federal government threatening to withdraw highway funds).

More unintended consequences of the nanny state. When personal risk is involved, decisions are best left to individuals.