Valarie Holford - Comments
Valerie HolfordSupportIndividual
Summary: A parent supports the proposed seatbelt reminders and argues that the government should also mandate a system to alert drivers if a child is left in a vehicle. The commenter emphasizes that such technology exists and is necessary to prevent avoidable deaths of infants left in cars.
As a mother, I'm writing to express my support for reminders for seatbelts in the back seat. But I also think that another requirement is extremely important to also institute: a system to tell parents if a child has been left in the back seat. This year has seen a record number of deaths of kids being left in the car compared to the same time period during earlier years. The technology is there. It's hard to believe drivers are alerted when they leave their headlights on, but not with something as important as this. NASA has found a way to do this. There is also a private company out there (babyalert.info) that has developed products. But very few people have their products (I am a parent who purchased 2). What is so frustrating is that these deaths are totally preventable, if the government steps in and takes on its duty to protect its most vulnerable and helpless citizens -- infants. Many people blame the parents, but when you hear from them it becomes clear it can probably happen to anyone. They never thought they could forget their child.
If you watch this Today Show story http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/38553943#38553943 and read the heartbreaking and Pulitzer prize winning Washington Post piece http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022701549.html you will be convinced