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Kids
In Cars
Unattended Children In Motor Vehicle Safety Act
BACKGROUND
Kids
In Cars is dedicated to eliminating the common practice of leaving
children unattended in motor vehicles and therefore reducing
the incidence of injury and death to children.
Kids
In Cars was started by two survivor advocates who were
determined to prevent death and injury because children are being
left unattended in motor vehicles.
Terrill and Michele Struttmann’s 2-year-old son Harrison
died after being struck by a van which was put into motion by two
toddlers, left unattended in the van.
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that during
July 2000-June 2001, an estimated 9,160 nonfatal injuries and 78
fatal injuries occurred in children 14 and younger as a result of
being left unattended in or around motor vehicles that were not in
traffic. To
date, Kids In Cars has documented over 3200 cases where
lives were endangered because children were left unattended in or
around vehicles, including 600 child deaths within the last
decade.
Currently
9 states have laws making it illegal to leave children unattended
in motor vehicles. We
are working with the remaining states interested in passing
legislation. Our goal
is to have a law that specifically addresses the need for
prevention and education about this dangerous behavior in every
state.
There
is a need for a law to raise public awareness about the dangers of
leaving children unattended inside motor vehicles.
The deaths and injuries caused by leaving children
unattended in motor vehicles are predictable and preventable.
Well-meaning parents and
caregivers of all socioeconomic levels leave children alone in
automobiles every day for a variety of reasons, but primarily
because they are unaware of the dangers associated with leaving
them alone. Through
legislation and education the practice of leaving children
unattended in motor vehicles can be greatly reduced with increased
awareness of the risks associated with this dangerous practice.
This
model law may not work for every state but it intends to be a
“best practices” model. It
is a starting point for legislators to consider proposing a law in
their state.
RATIONALE
The
Unattended Children In Motor Vehicle Safety Act does not apply if
an unattended child or another person is injured or medical
services are rendered. Nothing
in this act precludes prosecution under any other provision of
law. (i.e., child neglect/endangerment, etc.)
There
is no set or suggested time limit because an injury or death can
happen in an instant. Children
are immediately at risk when left unattended inside a motor
vehicle.
We
suggest that the fines collected from violations be
used for the development and implementation of community education
programs about the dangers of leaving children unattended in motor
vehicles. (i.e.
Seventy percent of fines collected in the state of California go
back to the county or city health department where the violation
occurred for education purposes.)
For
more info contact:
Terrill
Struttmann
Kids In Cars
918 Glenn Avenue
Washington, MO 63090
Phone: 636.390.8268
Fax:
636.390.9412
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