Hot Cars, Driveways and Car Safety Habits for Families

Hot cars: why it happens

• A car's inside temperature can rise about 20°F (11°C) in 10 minutes, even on a mild day with windows cracked. Children heat up much faster than adults.
• Most hot-car deaths happen when a loving, capable caregiver forgets a child is in the car, usually after a change in routine: a different parent doing drop-off, a skipped stop, a new job. Memory works this way for everyone; plan for it.
• About a quarter of cases involve children who got into an unlocked car on their own.

Habits that prevent it

• Look before you lock: open the back door every time you park.
• Put something you need, like your phone, bag or work badge, in the back seat.
• Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child hasn't arrived by a set time.
• Talk through drop-off changes out loud with partners, co-parents and grandparents.
• Never leave a child alone in a car, even for a quick errand, with the engine running or not.
• Lock cars at home, keep keys and fobs out of reach, and check cars and trunks first if a child goes missing.

Driveways and parking lots

• Small children are hard to see behind or in front of a vehicle, even with cameras.
• Walk around the car before you move it, and know where every child is. Have kids stand by the door with a hand on the car, or hold an adult's hand, during loading.
• Don't let driveways become play areas.

Inside the car

• All children under 13 ride in the back seat. See the car seats guide for seats and boosters.
• Secure loose items such as bags, groceries and water bottles; they fly forward in a crash.
• Power windows can trap fingers and necks; use the window lock.
• Use child locks on rear doors, and never let children play in a parked car.
• Car seats are for travel. Once you arrive, take a sleeping baby out to a flat, firm sleep space.
• Never ride with a child on your lap, and no children in truck beds or cargo areas.
• Rideshares and taxis: bring your child's seat.

Long trips and summer days

• Plan stops every 2 hours or so. Kids need breaks, and so do drivers.
• Check seat surfaces and buckles before buckling in; metal can burn skin in the sun.
• Sunshades on side windows help, but secure them so they don't become projectiles.

When to check in

• Ask your childcare center about its late-arrival call policy at enrollment.
• If someone in your home is often worn out, talk together about adding reminder systems.
• If you see a child alone in a car, especially on a warm day, call 911.