SENATE MEMORIAL 17

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE MEMBERS OF NEW MEXICO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO ENCOURAGE AUTOMAKERS TO DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD NOTIFY DRIVERS WHEN A CHILD IS IN A CAR SEAT BEFORE THE DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE.

     WHEREAS, heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle fatalities for children under the age of fourteen; and     WHEREAS, on average, thirty-eight children die in hot motor vehicles each year from heat-related causes after being trapped inside those motor vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, more than one-half of the fatalities occur in children under the age of two; and

     WHEREAS, a child's temperature-regulating system is not as developed as an adult's and can warm at a rate of three to five times faster than an adult's; and 

     WHEREAS, the number of heatstroke deaths in children that are attributable to their being left unattended in hot motor vehicles is trending upward; and

     WHEREAS, incidents of heat-related fatalities can occur even on days with relatively mild temperatures because vehicles can reach life-threatening temperatures very rapidly;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the members of New Mexico's congressional delegation be requested to encourage automakers to develop and implement technology that would notify drivers when a child is in a car seat before the driver exits the vehicle; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of New Mexico's congressional delegation.

- 2 -