Tragically, at least five babies have died in hot cars in the U.S. in the last 8 days. The most recent tragedy in Bakersfield, CA is at least the 12th nationwide this year. 

6/29/25               Bakersfield      CA          1 yr

6/28/25               Mission            TX          3 mos

6/27/25               Brownsville      TX          4 yrs

6/26/25               Mansfield         OH         5 yrs

6/22/25               Metter               GA         4 yrs

At least 1,137 children have died in hot cars nationwide since 1990 and at least another 7,500 survived with varying types and severities of injuries, according to data collected by Kids and Car Safety. Approximately 88% of children who die in hot cars are age 3 or younger and the majority (55%) were unknowingly left by an otherwise loving, responsible parent or caregiver.

As we head into the holiday weekend, Kids and Car Safety urges families to exercise heightened caution, as data consistently show an increase in vehicle-related tragedies involving children following long holiday weekends. A leading contributing factor is a change in routine, which can result in children being unknowingly left behind in vehicles—many of whom were intended to be dropped off at daycare.

The above chart illustrates how hot car deaths increased to alarming numbers after children began riding in the back seat of vehicles.

Technology exists that can prevent these unthinkable tragedies. A provision was passed in November 2021 as a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a regulation by November, 2023 for technology in all new cars to help prevent hot car deaths. The final rule is now MORE THAN a year and a half overdue from the Congressionally mandated deadline. 

On May 1, grieving families sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Duffy urging him to issue a long-overdue Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for a federal safety standard requiring life-saving rear seat occupant detection technology in all new vehicles. The rule was mandated by Congress in 2021 under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with a deadline of November 2023. That deadline has come and gone, and no action has yet been taken.

“We are committed to the push for occupant detection technology in all cars immediately. As we continue our advocacy, children continue to die week after week. It is beyond heartbreaking," stated Janette Fennell, founder and president of Kids and Car Safety, the leading national nonprofit working solely to prevent injuries and deaths of children in and around motor vehicles. "Automakers do not have to wait for the final regulation to be issued requiring technology; they can add occupant detection technology to their vehicles today,” she continued.

Child hot car deaths and injuries are largely misunderstood by the general public and the majority of parents believe this would never happen to them. Kids and Car Safety educates families about how to safeguard their children until they have life-saving technology in their vehicles. 

Hot Car Resources:

Hot car dangers fact sheet

Available hot car technology

Differences between rear seat reminder alert only & occupant detectionOccupant detection technology demonstration video

Hot Car video PSAs:

What To Do if You See a Child Alone in a Vehicle

Child gets into hot car, becomes trapped

Child Unknowingly Left in a Hot Car

Safety Tips for Parents and Caregivers

Create simple habits to help keep your child safe.

·     Make sure your child is never left alone in a car:

·     Place the child’s diaper bag or item in the front passenger seat as a visual cue that the child is with you.

·     Make it a habit of opening the back door every time you park to ensure no one is left behind. To enforce this habit, place an item that you can’t start your day without in the back seat (employee badge, laptop, phone, handbag, etc.)

·     Ask your childcare provider to call you right away if your child hasn’t arrived as scheduled. 

·     Clearly announce and confirm who is getting each child out of the vehicle. Miscommunication can lead to thinking someone else removed the child.

Make sure children cannot get into a parked car:

·     Keep vehicles locked at all times, especially in the garage or driveway. Ask neighbors and visitors to do the same.

·     Never leave car keys within reach of children.

·     Use childproofing knob covers and door alarms to prevent children from exiting your home unnoticed.

·     Teach children to honk the horn or turn on hazard lights if they become stuck inside a car.

·     If a child is missing, immediately check the inside, floorboards and trunk of all vehicles in the area carefully, even if they’re locked.

For more information, visit https://www.kidsandcars.org/how-kids-get-hurt/heat-stroke/.