FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PENNDOT REMINDS MOTORISTS NEVER TO LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN OR PETS UNATTENDED IN AN AUTOMOBILE

New law took effect July 10

ALLENTOWN (July 14) – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) reminds motorists never to leave their children or pets unattended in a vehicle, especially with summer heat waves.

PennDOT also reminds drivers Section 3701 of Title 75 (the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code) was amended under House Bill 804 to further protect the commonwealth’s youngest citizens (it became law on July 10). The new law stipulates that for children left unattended in a vehicle, the driver of the vehicle will be subject to a separate offense for each child who is left unattended (previously it would have been a single offense).

According to the National Safe Kids Coalition, on a sunny day, temperatures of just 60 degrees can make a parked vehicle with closed windows a dangerous oven within minutes. And, dark colored seats increase the heat conditions even further. Within 20 minutes, air temperature in the nineties can heat up to 125 degrees in a closed vehicle. Within 40 minutes, that same temperature can rise to 140 degrees.

A young child's core body temperature increases three to five times faster than an adult's. Because heat affects children more quickly and severely than adults, children are especially vulnerable to brain damage and death.

From 1996-2001, there were 150 children who died in automobiles due to heat and 90 percent of the deaths occurred with children who were three years old and younger. Sadly, roughly 20 percent of young parents believe it is acceptable to leave children in or around an automobile unattended.

PennDOT Offers Tips for Parents and Caregivers to Avoid Catastrophe:

· Lock your vehicles at all times, even in the driveway or garage. Young children can climb inside the car or the trunk and become trapped. Consider contacting your car dealership to get your car fitted with a trunk release mechanism.

· Never leave a child alone in a parked car, even with the windows down.

· Teach children not to play in or around cars. Keep car keys out of children's reach and sight.

· Plan to take children with you while running errands, or make arrangements for them to be left in a caring environment with a competent person.

· When making plans with other parents, consider and discuss arrangements that may be needed for all children involved.

Also, never leave a pet unattended in a vehicle. The extreme heat could be harmful or deadly to them. PennDOT provides the following recommendations to prevent pets from getting overheated in vehicles:

· Never leave pets alone in a parked car even for a minute.

· If you're going to an amusement park, zoo, or other place where your pet is unwelcome, try to find a nearby kennel to board the pet while you're occupied.

Make sure pets always have fresh, clean water available.

· When driving with a pet in the vehicle, be aware of the temperature where the animal is positioned. If necessary, open a window or adjust the air conditioning to prevent overheating and/or dehydration. Direct sun might adversely affect dark-colored pets, particularly in the summer, even when the car is moving and the air is cooler.

PennDOT wishes all families a safe and healthy summer.