Politics

New bill could help avoid hot car deaths

WASHINGTON — New protections being considered in Congress could help save your child from a hot car death.

There is a new push in Washington for legislation that would require new technology to be installed in cars.

It was Memorial Day weekend 2011 when Norman Collins' 3-month-old grandson Bishop was accidentally left in the car for 2 1/2 hours at church on a 93-degree day.

It was Memorial Day weekend 2011 when Norman Collins' 3-month-old grandson Bishop was accidentally left in the car for 2 1/2 hours at church on a 93-degree day.

Collins' son grabbed the keyboard for the choir and thought a friend grabbed Bishop.

“I had never heard of hot car deaths before that. I didn't know they exist,” Collins told Channel 2’s Justin Gray.

TRENDING STORIES:

So far this year, nine children have died after being left in hot cars.

“This is about saving kids’ lives, period,” said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio.

Now a bill in Congress would require that cars have an alert if you shut the door with the car off and your child is still inside.

There is a new push for legislation that would require new technology to be installed in cars.

But the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents major car companies, has concerns about requiring it.

In a statement, it said the proposed law would take years to see results and only 13 percent of new car buyers have young children.

Rear-view cameras will be installed on all new cars starting next year. That's because of a 2008 federal law. The sponsors of the Hot Cars Act want the same for back seat alerts.

“You get a warning if you leave the keys in the car, you should get a warning if you leave a child in the car,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.

For Collins, it comes down to one thing.

“Do you think this technology could have saved your grandson's life?” Gray asked Collins.

“One-thousand times over, yes,” Collins said.

The bill has Democrat and Republican sponsors.

On average, 37 children a year die in overheated vehicles. Sponsors of this bill say the deaths are completely avoidable.