Some 41 children died in the United States this year from being left alone in a hot car. Safety advocates want rules requiring new technology to solve the problem; automakers say there's nothing yet guaranteed to work. Or is there?


A poster on the Club Armada forums snapped the photo above, saying it "makes you wonder what event led up to putting paper and pen in hand." It's easy to imagine, as dozens of times this summer children were found dead in vehicles due to hyperthermia. Typically it's unintentional neglect, but occasionally there's simply something else to do where children aren't allowed.

Safety advocates have petitioned U.S. regulators to require warning systems that would set off an alarm if a child is left in the back seat with the car shut off. While some companies sell add-on systems to do just that, automakers say there's no technology that's proven foolproof enough to guarantee it would save a child's life.

After our story about texting and crashes earlier this week. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood responded in a piece titled "engineering alone will not end" distracted driving. If that's true, it also applies to distracted parking.

Perhaps in making new vehicles technological wonders that remove much of the burden of driving, we've muted the responsibilities that come with getting behind the wheel. Maybe all it takes to save a few lives are drivers conscious enough of their duties and their failings to grab a pen and paper.


(H/T to Chief Pontiaxe)