What is Hyundai Rear Occupant Alert?
Whether it’s social media or our breathlessly quick 24-hour news cycle, in today’s world, there are many things competing for our attention. With so many distractions, it’s easy to become forgetful, even in situations that could have life-or-death consequences.
Hyundai Rear Occupant Alert is a new automotive technology that can help drivers avoid making an oversight that could be fatal. The automaker introduced this innovation with the rollout of its 2019 Santa Fe SUV.
Preventing child vehicular heatstroke
According to KidsAndCars.org, there were 48 child vehicular heatstroke deaths in 2018. These accidents happen when a child is unknowingly left in a vehicle by parents or caregivers.
Since 1994, more than 800 children have died from heat-related illnesses after being left unattended in a car. In 55 percent of these cases, the parent or caregiver was unaware that the child was in the vehicle.
On a hot day, the temperature within a car can rise very quickly. If it’s 78 degrees outside, the temperature within a parked car’s cabin can rise to 100 degrees in mere minutes. On a 90-degree day, the temperature within a parked car’s cabin can soar to 109 degrees in just 10 minutes.
Children are more susceptible to heatstroke than adults, and it can set in very quickly. Doctors say that in a hot car, a child’s ability to regulate their internal temperature can be overwhelmed in a matter of minutes. In situations like this, a child’s core temperature can increase three to five times more quickly than that of an adult.
Hyundai Rear Occupant Alert issues a warning if the driver exits the vehicle with a child left in the rear seat. This technology protects kids, and it gives drivers the peace of mind that comes with knowing they’ll never inadvertently leave a child unattended in their vehicle.
