White House petitioned to prevent ‘hot car’ child deaths

Safety advocates are petitioning the White House to help prevent the deaths of children who are left in cars during hot summer weather conditions.

The petition, which was filed on the White House website, calls for the Department of Transportation to “require installation of technology in all vehicles and/or child safety seats to prevent children from being left alone left alone in vehicles.”

“In the last 20 years more than 670 children have died in hot vehicles,” the petition states. “As of July 15 this year 17 children had already died, reports kidsandcars.org. These unthinkable tragedies can be prevented.”

{mosads}Several states have passed laws making it a crime to leave a child unattended in a car. The kids and cars group says a majority of states have not passed legislation to address the hot car issue, however.

The petition has been signed by 414 people. The White House requires 100,000 signatures before it responds to online petitions.