Hyundai plans ‘rear occupant alert’ to ensure children’s safety

Hyundai has announced plans to introduce a new Rear Occupant Alert system to future models, using motion sensors and connected technology, to prevent children from being forgotten in hot cars. Skyline Automotive is the official distribution partner of Hyundai Motor Company for Qatar.The system, which Hyundai will begin introducing on new cars for the 2019 model year, monitors the rear seats using an ultrasonic sensor to detect the movements of children. If it detects movement after the driver leaves the car, it will sound the horn, flash the lights and can send a Blue Link alert to the driver’s smartphone via Hyundai’s Blue Link connected car system.A message on the instrument panel will also remind drivers to check the rear seats before getting out, a press statement explained.Hyundai’s head of Operations for Africa and the Middle East, Mike Song, said: “As Hyundai uses connected technology to make cars better and safer, Rear Occupant Alert is a very simple but effective idea that will certainly save children’s lives.”Even when the outside temperature is in the low-20Cs, measurements show that the interior of a car parked in direct sunlight can quickly approach 50C. Experts say it only takes a matter of minutes before the heat can overwhelm a child’s ability to regulate his or her internal temperature. Their core temperature can increase three to five times faster than that of an adult.“The Rear Occupant Alert is just another example of how we do things better at Hyundai,” said Mike O’Brien, vice-president, Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “This system is a first step in preventing tragedies.”