Install rear seat reminders, avoid dark window tints: Police issue advisory after children suffocated to death in parked cars

Cyberabad Police issue advisory to prevent child deaths in parked vehicles, stressing the importance of safety precautions.

Following a series of incidents involving children accidentally locking themselves inside unattended parked vehicles, the Cyberabad Police have issued a public safety advisory urging citizens to adopt strict precautions to prevent further tragedies.

This comes a day after a five-year-old girl died after accidentally locking herself inside a parked car while playing in Makthamadaram village in Kadthal. A month earlier, on April 14, two children died of suffocation after they were found trapped inside a parked car in Damaragidda village of Chevella.

The police said that every vehicle be thoroughly checked before it is locked—this includes inspecting both the front and rear seats for children or pets. Police also warned against ever leaving children alone inside or even near a parked vehicle, even briefly.

One of the key safety lapses identified is the accessibility of car keys or remote locking devices to children. If within reach, children may accidentally unlock and enter vehicles, becoming trapped without the ability to get out. Police recommend that keys be stored securely and out of children’s sight and reach.

The advisory further calls on parents to educate their children about the dangers of vehicles, making it clear that cars are not places to play.

Other precautions recommended include locking vehicles even when parked at home, avoiding the use of dark window tints that obstruct visibility, and installing modern safety features such as rear seat reminders or child detection alerts—technologies designed to prevent such oversights.

“Doors and windows must be completely shut and secured, even when the vehicle is not in use,” the police added. “In cases where children go missing, the first step should be to check inside nearby vehicles.”