We created laws to require seat belts, maybe it’s time we create laws that require the manufacturers to install tech to detect kids and pets left in hot vehicles and alert the authorities or at the very least sound an alarm.
PIR occupancy sensor + thermometer + window open sensor + seat occupancy sensor/scale + door lock/child lock sensor + decibel limit on microphone already in car
Technically possible, yes. Most of the equipment is already there. It’s just a matter of tuning everything to work together to solve the specific problem. The bigger problem in my eyes is most people would treat this as a perfect solution instead of a last resort like what happened with Tesla’s FSD.
Almost all modern cars (made in the last few years) have some kind of warning when you turn the car off and something is weighing down the backseat. My car has it.
Though it’s possible to turn it off, I think it should be required to not be toggle-able.
The problem is with shitty zoning laws that enforce car-dependency – people wouldn’t be accidentally leaving their kids to die in hot cars if they didn’t need a car to get places to begin with.
It can be done in a way that does not affect privacy. If you lock your car while there’s still a person detected on the back seat, it will sound an alarm.
Some cars have that already. I rented a Hyundai Elantra recently when my car was being serviced. It came with Rear Occupant Alert. Ultrasonic sensors can detect if there’s movement in the backseat when a driver exits the vehicle.
I mean what about a big red panic button, if pressed starts sounding alarms while also opening the windows. Only works in immobile cars and turns off when long pressed. Done.
We created laws to require seat belts, maybe it’s time we create laws that require the manufacturers to install tech to detect kids and pets left in hot vehicles and alert the authorities or at the very least sound an alarm.
Seatbelts are simple. Aside from the big brother distopian nightmare this proposal enables, I’m not convinced such a thing it technically possible.
A car knowing when I left a child in the backseat? Basically the same as my thoughts being censored by Big Brother.
It’s my right and my freedom to let people I am responsible for die in a heatwave!
This is already in a bunch of cars. Just doesn’t call police.
I’ve had rental cars chirp back at me when I tried to lock them because my backpack was in the back seat.
Perhaps it could be done with a pressure plate and thermometer?
https://lemmy.world/comment/11004444
I don’t have kids. At least give me a fuse to pull.
PIR occupancy sensor + thermometer + window open sensor + seat occupancy sensor/scale + door lock/child lock sensor + decibel limit on microphone already in car
Technically possible, yes. Most of the equipment is already there. It’s just a matter of tuning everything to work together to solve the specific problem. The bigger problem in my eyes is most people would treat this as a perfect solution instead of a last resort like what happened with Tesla’s FSD.
Or, “the bad guys will just heat my car to open my windows and steal my kid,” probably
I can see the headlines about the first time it’s rolled out… all the headlines are short people being mad that they were flagged as kids
Or the police officers who rushed on scene to find a bag of groceries in the back seat…after smashing a window…
‘Where… dog?’
A confused police officer shredds a bag of veggies with a shotgun, claims self-defense.
It’s more a question of money than feasibility. I’m pretty sure a couple manufacturers already have basic capabilities similar to this
Almost all modern cars (made in the last few years) have some kind of warning when you turn the car off and something is weighing down the backseat. My car has it.
Though it’s possible to turn it off, I think it should be required to not be toggle-able.
As someone who has no kids and doesn’t transport kids, no thanks. I don’t need it going off because I have random stuff in the back.
You can’t fix stupid negligence with tech.
To quote my dog’s vet, not only can you fix stupid, but it’s quite a simple procedure.
You can’t fix human arrogance.
Please no. Car manufacturers are already terrible with privacy
Then the problem is with privacy laws that allow abuse and poor regulation, not with more capable cars.
The problem is with shitty zoning laws that enforce car-dependency – people wouldn’t be accidentally leaving their kids to die in hot cars if they didn’t need a car to get places to begin with.
Make people stupid, make people fat, they spend more money, can’t argue with that.
World gets obese, world gets dumb, at least we made money, oh no we’re being burned to death by the sun.
It can be done in a way that does not affect privacy. If you lock your car while there’s still a person detected on the back seat, it will sound an alarm.
Some cars have that already. I rented a Hyundai Elantra recently when my car was being serviced. It came with Rear Occupant Alert. Ultrasonic sensors can detect if there’s movement in the backseat when a driver exits the vehicle.
I mean what about a big red panic button, if pressed starts sounding alarms while also opening the windows. Only works in immobile cars and turns off when long pressed. Done.
Babies cannot press panic buttons…
They tried. Lobbyists got Congress to shoot it down.
It’s not difficult. Functioning designs already exist. Hell most if not all cars today have weight sensors to determine airbag deployment.
If it saves one kid, then I’m all for it.
By the way: this famous article is a must-read for this topic