No child (and pet) left behind a hot vehicle with Hyundai ROA systems

Hyundai is addressing the safety issue of pediatric heatstroke with its Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) systems. Pediatric heatstroke can result when  children are left unattended in parked vehicles and the temperature in the cabin soars. high temperatures.

The company now features ROA in Hyundai products as standard or optional: the Palisade, Santa Fe, Elantra, Tucson, and their hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and sporty N-Line equivalents. ROA is also offered in Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis, in the GV80, and G80.

Hyundai says the innovative ROA technology addresses and helps to prevent potentially fatal outcomes. Hyundai claims it's the only original equipment manufacturer to provide such a sophisticated sensing-based alert.

ROA warns when a child is left inside the vehicle through flashing lights, honking the horn, and sending a text message via the Blue Link connected car system, directing the driver to immediately check their vehicle’s backseat once they have departed and locked the vehicle.

Hyundai has also made its optional Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert, or a similar sensor-based system, available on more of its models including the Palisade, Santa Fe and 2022 Tucson variants. These are SUV vehicles often driven by families with young children, like the Genesis GV80 and G80 vehicles, Hyundai added.

 

“As we continue to develop safety systems that help protect our customers and make our roads safer, we have turned our attention to the upcoming summer months and the prevention of pediatric heat stroke,” said Hyundai Motor North America Chief Safety Officer Brian Latouf.

“The creative ROA technologies found in Hyundai products have the ability to alert and save precious lives during a momentary lapse in judgment and/or unawareness on how quickly a vehicles’ interior can heat up in summer temperatures.

Anyone who sees an unattended child in a parked car is urged to call emergency services and stay with the car until help arrives. All drivers should always lock their cars when not in use and keep keys away from children,” Latouf added.

Hyundai currently offers two types of ROA systems to help prevent these tragedies from occurring.

The ROA door-logic system detects if a rear door was opened or closed when the car was started, then reminds the driver to check the rear seat with a message on the center cluster when exiting the vehicle.

The Ultrasonic ROA has door-logic technology and an ultrasonic sensor to detect the movements of children and pets in the second-row seats.

If the system detects movement in the second-row seats after the driver leaves the vehicle and locks the doors, it will honk the horn and send an alert to the driver’s smartphone via Hyundai’s Blue Link connected car system, if such is system is activated.

Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, (NHTSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) in the US recently launched their annual Pediatric Heatstroke prevention and public awareness program Look Before You Lock. Highlights include recognizing a child’s sensitivity to heat.

Both organizations said that in 10 minutes, a car’s interior temperature can rise about 6ºC. Even at an outside temperature of 21ºC, the temperature inside the car can reach over 46ºC.

Photos from Hyundai, Genesis

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