Hyundai says it is proactively addressing the safety issue of pediatric heatstroke as a result of children being left unattended in vehicles in high temperatures during warmer months. The company now offers 13 vehicle models equipped with Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) systems as standard or optional. These utilize a sensing-based alert system – combining flashing lights, honking the horn and sending a text message via the Blue Link connected car system – which directs the driver to immediately check their vehicle’s back seat once they have departed and locked the vehicle.
The Palisade, Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Sonata, Sonata HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Tucson vehicle variants include Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) systems as standard. Hyundai has also made its optional and more advanced ultrasonic-based ROA available on more of its models, including the Palisade, Santa Fe and 2022 Tucson variants – SUV vehicles often driven by families with young children – in addition to the Genesis GV80 and G80.
“As we continue to develop safety systems that help protect our customers and make our roads safer, we have turned our attention to the upcoming summer months and the prevention of pediatric heatstroke,” said Brian Latouf, chief safety officer at Hyundai Motor North America. “The creative ROA technologies found in Hyundai products have the ability to alert and save precious lives during a momentary lapse in judgment and/or unawareness on how quickly a vehicle’s interior can heat up in summer temperatures. Anyone who sees an unattended child in a parked car is urged to call emergency services and stay with the car until help arrives. All drivers should always lock their cars when not in use and keep keys away from children.”
Hyundai currently offers two types of ROA systems. A door-logic system detects if a rear door was opened or closed when the car was started, then reminds the driver to check the rear seat with a message on the center cluster when exiting the vehicle. The ultrasonic ROA uses the door-logic technology combined with an ultrasonic sensor to detect the movements of children and pets in the second-row seats. If the system detects movement in the second-row seats, it will alert the driver after they leave the vehicle.
