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New Auto Safety Legislation Aims to Protect Children

'Backovers' account for half of auto fatalities involving children

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

February 15, 2008

The legislation requires federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to write rules requiring that all power windows reverse themselves automatically if they encounter resistance like child’s neck or arm.

If NHTSA decides not to impose the rules, the agency must explain why to Congress.

A second provision of the bill requires that driver visibility to the rear of a vehicle meet a minimum standard. Automakers can achieve the standard with additional mirrors, sensors, cameras or other technology in order to prevent a vehicle from backing over a child.

A third provision of the bill is written to prevent accidental shifting of vehicles out of park, causing them to move or roll without warning.

The legislation gives NHTSA two and a half years to study non-traffic related fatalities before proposing the regulations.

The legislation is named the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, after a 2-year-old who was killed when he was inadvertently backed over by an SUV . Parents, consumer and safety groups praised the bill as “an important child auto safety measure.”

"We know what the problems are, we have inexpensive and effective technological solutions available and now we will have a law that includes deadlines for federal government action," said Jackie Gillan, vice president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

The bill requires the NHTSA to establish a database of non-crash incidents and develop a program to provide the public with safety information regarding dangers to young children.

Since 2000, over 1,350 children have died in non-traffic incidents, with at least 227 fatalities already in 2007 according to KIDS AND CARS.

“Back-over incidents have increased dramatically claiming the lives of 474 children from 2002-2006 compared to 128 from 1997-2001. Backovers now account for half of all non-traffic fatalities involving children,” the child safety group said.

A 2002 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 9,100 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms following non-traffic incidents in a one-year time period.

President Bush is expected to sign the bill.

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