Since 1998, nearly a thousand children have lost their lives while trapped inside a hot vehicle, and according to the National Safety Council, in 2019 alone, 53 children died in vehicles due to heatstroke. While this may seem easily avoidable, the statistics are staggering. By an overwhelming margin, more than half of these deaths stem from a child simply being forgotten within the cabin.
Toyota has established itself as a market leader in research and development, and with the manufacturer's recent commitment to spend over one million dollars per hour towards advancing safety technologies and innovation globally, Toyota plans to continue to challenge and improve industry-wide safety standards. At Toyota of Plano, we are proud to represent a brand that is focused on revolutionizing automotive technology and safety equipment. Toyota’s commitment to innovation allows our Toyota of Plano team to remain confident that we are providing our customers with the latest in safety technology.
Fortunately for Toyota owners, our expert Toyota engineers have already made major strides to combat this crisis. With the development of new “Cabin Awareness” technology, Toyota Connected North America developers are among the first to play a crucial role in ending hot car deaths.
This feature aims to provide drivers with complete awareness of each passenger in the vehicle. With state-of-the-art 4D imaging radars and “millimeter wave” technology, micro-movements such as the rise and fall of an infant's chest, or even a heartbeat, can be sensed within the vehicle. Based on the current prototype model, we can expect the cabin, footwells, and cargo area to be regularly monitored for any signs of life.
However, this technology does not stop at the safety of our children. Pets are also commonly left in sweltering hot vehicles, and they are just as susceptible to experiencing heat exhaustion. In the same way a driver would be notified of a child left-behind, the “Cabin Awareness” technology will notify the driver when sensing a pet.
In the rare case that a child or pet is left behind, the system will be triggered. The technology will then provide the owner with an array of warnings and instructions to check the vehicle. As it is currently anticipated, the car will first attempt to alert its driver by displaying a warning light, sounding the alarm, and activating emergency lights. If this does not prompt a response, the owner and any listed emergency contacts will receive notifications through text message or phone call. If the system fails to receive a response, Toyota’s Safety Connect emergency assistance system will contact first responders through the SOS function. If programmed to do so, Toyota Connect can also broadcast an in-home alert through your Amazon Alexa.
In addition to monitoring the cabin to prevent passengers from heatstroke, other features of the Cabin Awareness technology include distinctions between adult and child passengers and seat belt sensing. While this technology is still in the testing stage of production, the manufacturer’s plans to integrate this system into future generations of their lineup positions Toyota ahead of many other manufacturers - specifically, in the development of technology for the purpose of child safety. In fact, individuals close to the manufacturer suspect that future Sienna models – the model that is often dubbed the “traditional family car” - will likely be the first Toyota vehicle to be equipped with this new safety technology.
Our Toyota of Plano team is excited to soon offer a feature that could significantly reduce the lives lost to preventable conditions, like suffering from heatstroke while in a hot vehicle. Each innovative idea Toyota produces is a step towards improving the industry's overall safety standards, and Toyota of Plano is proud to be a part of this movement. Visit Toyota of Plano today, and ask about the safety features you can expect in our full line up of 2022 Toyotas.
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