Hyundai Introduces New Car Tech to Prevent Child Heat Deaths

One of the things that consistently draws drivers to Hyundai’s vehicles is the brand’s unwavering commitment to safety. With Hyundai’s recent announcement that its new vehicles will include a Rear Occupant Alert system to let drivers know if a child is left alone in the car, the automaker reaffirms its dedication to keeping families safe once again.

The new alert system (which is slated to appear in the 2019 Hyundai lineup of vehicles) will help prevent heat-related deaths. Each year, dozens of children die when parents and grandparents accidentally leave them behind inside hot, locked cars. Since the beginning of 2017, 38 children have died from heatstroke after being left alone in a vehicle.

The alarm system will monitor the rear seats of your Hyundai using an ultrasonic sensor which is sensitive to movement. Before drivers exit the vehicle, the system will issue a reminder via the center instrument display behind the steering wheel asking drivers to check the rear seats. If movement is detected in the rear seats after the driver leaves the vehicle, the system will trigger a response: the horn will honk, the headlights will flash and an alert text will immediately be sent to the driver’s smartphone.

“The Rear Occupant Alert system is just another example of how we do things better at Hyundai. We understand that only a brief lapse in judgment and inattention can have terrible consequences,” Mike O’Brien, vice president of product, corporate and digital planning at Hyundai Motor America, said in a recent statement. “[This alert system] is a first step in preventing tragedies.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 739 children have died nationwide since 1998 due to vehicular heatstroke. In over 300 of those deaths (54%, to be exact), the child was forgotten in the car by the parent or guardian by accident. Only 17% of the reported deaths were the result of deliberate actions taken by the guardian.

Although both GM and Nissan already have similar systems on the market, their alerts rely on rear doors being opened to detect the presence of backseat passengers. Hyundai’s Rear Occupant Alert system utilizes ultrasonic sensors in the vehicle’s headliner to monitor the seats constantly; independent of any of the car’s other systems. It takes only a few minutes for children to overheat and suffer heatstroke because their core temperature can increase up to five times faster than an adult’s can. Each minute is precious to help save a life.

The Rear Occupant Alert system will be available in vehicles at a Hyundai dealership near you soon. To find out more about the system and to get more detailed information, just contact the staff at your favorite local Hyundai dealership. At Rosen Hyundai, we’re always happy to help.