← NHTSA complaints

1999 UNKNOWN UNKNOWN — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1 fatal · 157522 · 1999-07-06

Vehicle

Make
UNKNOWN
Model
UNKNOWN
Year
1999
Manufacturer
UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER
Component
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Severity

Deaths
1
Injured
0
Fire
No
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

ANOTHER CHILD HAS DIED AS A RESULT OF HEAT EXPOSURE IN A CLOSED, LOCKED CAR - BAKING IN THE SUN. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE PARENT HADN'T PUT THE CHILD INTO THIS SITUATION. IT COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE CAR'S TEMPERATURE SENSOR, COUPLED WITH A MICROPHONE, WERE CONNECTED TO A LOGIC UNIT THAT COULD DETECT THE COMBINATION OF INTENSE HEAT, CLOSED DOORS, AND A CHILD'S SCREAMS. THE CAR'S HORN COULD THEN HAVE BEEN SOUNDED, EFFECTIVELY CARRYING THE ALARM OF THE CHILD'S UNHEARD VOICE TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD - A CRY FOR HELP. THE LOGIC COULD BE CODED IN THE FOLLOWING WAY: IF [(DANGEROUS TEMPERATURE LEVEL) AND (CAR NOT RUNNING) AND ((CHILD SCREAMING) OR (DOOR HANDLE PULLED FROM INSIDE))] THENCAUSE CAR HORN TO SOUND; END IF; THE ONLY THING A CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD HAVE TO ADD TO THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION IS A MICROPHONE AND THIS SHORT LOGIC STATEMENT IN THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
708263
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown