GM Expands Availability of Rear-Seat Reminder Tech

General Motors Co. says it will offer its rear-seat reminder technology on more than 20 vehicles in the U.S. over the next year. The company introduced the system, which aims to help drivers from inadvertently leaving a child in the back seat, this year on the 2017 GMC Acadia crossover vehicle.

The system is activated when either rear door is opened and closed within 10 minutes before a vehicle is started or while it’s running. Once engaged, the system will sound five chimes and display a warning message within the instrument cluster to "look in rear seat" when the vehicle is turned off.

GM says more than three dozen children in the U.S. have died from heatstroke this year after being left in vehicles or gaining access to an unattended vehicle, up 60% over 2015 levels. The carmaker didn’t cite the source of the information.

Noting that the new system doesn’t actually detect items in the rear seat, GM recommends that motorists always check the rear seat prior to exiting the vehicle.

Earlier this year two Florida men launched an aftermarket device that uses pressure sensors and a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone app to help prevent children from being left unattended in a vehicle.