Child Safety Act approved, new vehicle equipment required

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a committee markup Dec. 18 during which the committee reviewed H.R. 1216, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, a bill that directs the secretary of transportation to issue regulations to reduce the incidence of child injury and death occurring inside or outside of light motor vehicles.

Specifically, the bill asks the secretary of transportation to initiate a rulemaking, pertaining to light motor vehicles, requiring power windows and panels to automatically reverse direction when they detect an obstruction – to prevent children from being trapped, injured or killed.

Additionally, it calls for a rulemaking requiring a rearward visibility performance standard that provides drivers with a means for detecting the presence of a person or object behind the vehicle to prevent death and injury resulting from backing incidents, particularly those involving small children and disabled persons.

It also calls for the vehicle service brake pedal to be engaged when the car is shifted out of “park” to prevent vehicles from unintentionally rolling away. Finally, the bill establishes a child safety information program to collect non-traffic incident data and provide information to parents about potential hazards and ways to avoid them.

This bill was first introduced in 2003, named after Cameron Gulbransen who was killed in a car accident. Since then, more than 1,013 children have died in preventable accidents. Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky, D-Ill., vice chair of the subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, offered an amendment that was adopted by a voice vote. The bill was then approved by the committee.

To view H.R. 1216, visit ASA’s legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com. It can be found under the Press Center tab by clicking “References and Bills.”