Hyundai Announces Its Own Rear Seat Alert System

Hyundai is the latest automaker to unveil a system which it hopes will prevent hot car deaths.

Dubbed Rear Occupant Alert, the system continually monitors the rear seats for movement thanks to an ultrasonic sensor. If the sensor detects movement, an alert will appear on the instrument cluster display reminding the driver to check the rear seats when exiting the vehicle.

If this alert fails to trigger the driver’s memory and they walk away from the vehicle, the Rear Occupant Alert system will honk the horn, flash the lights and send an alert to the driver’s smartphone through Hyundai’s Blue Link connected car system.

The automaker will introduce the technology in 2019 model year vehicles.

In a statement, vice president for product, corporate and digital planning at Hyundai North America, Mike O’Brien said the system could help save lives.

“The Rear Occupant Alert is just another example of how we do things better at Hyundai. This system is a first step in preventing tragedies. We understand only a brief lapse in judgment and inattention can have terrible consequences.”

This year in the United States, 38 children have died from heatstroke after being left inside vehicles.