BILL NUMBER: S8734

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
rear occupant alert systems in certain vehicles

 
PURPOSE:

To require vehicles manufactured after July 1, 2026 and sold or offered
for sale in New. York as a new vehicle to be registered in this state to
be equipped with a rear occupant alert system.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law to add
subdivision 55 making it unlawful for any person, firm, association or
corporation to sell a new motor vehicle in New York after July 1, 2026
unless it is equipped with a rear occupant alert system. This section
further authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations
relative to rear occupant alert systems.
              

Section 2 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In the past twenty-five years, nearly one thousand children have died of
heatstroke because they were left or became trapped in a hot car
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Even on cool days,
temperatures within parked cars can rise significantly within a short
period of time. On average, a car can heat up 19 degrees Fahrenheit in
just ten minutes. A child's body temperature rises three to five times
faster than that of an adult, making them especially vulnerable to heat
stoke when left or trapped inside of a car.

The unfortunate truth is that many children who die from heatstroke are
left in a car by their parent or caregiver. Often, this occurs due to
what neuroscientist David M. Diamond has described as the "Fatal
Distraction." Essentially, parents will drive somewhere that they often
go alone, such as work, and go into "autopilot mode and lose awareness
of the child in the back seat." If the child is silent or sleeping in
the back of the car, the parent may walk into the office without realiz-
ing that the child is still there. Rear occupant alert systems would
directly address instances of the "fatal distraction" by sounding an
alarm when the presence of a child or pet is detected in the car.

Rear occupant alert technology currently exists which can notify drivers
and nearby persons that there is a child or pet closed within a parked
vehicle. Many auto manufacturers have successfully introduced the tech-
nology in newer models of their vehicles. This legislation would require
vehicles sold to be registered in New York and assembled after July 1,
2026 to be equipped with life-saving rear occupant alert technology to
detect the presence of a child or pet in a parked car.

Heat stroke deaths of children and pets are avoidable. This legislation
would ensure that in newly manufactured vehicles there is a system in
place to alert parents and caregivers when someone is left trapped in

the car and combat the too frequent instances of death or permanent
injury from heatstroke.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.