Back seat occupants

[Tim]

My truck is at the dealer to have the camera button repaired as per TSB 23-2416.

They gave me a 2024 Ranger as a loaner.

The first time I parked the Ranger I heard a tone beeping.

After a few seconds I determined that the tone/beeper was reminding me to check the back seat for passengers that might be there.

Why do I - why does anyone - need a reminder to check for someone in the back seat?

If you are so brain dead that you forget that your senile parent, your child, your dog or anyone is in the back seat of your vehicle then you should not be driving.

There is no excuse for forgetting that someone is in the back seat of your car.

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[UncleFester]

True but it happens all too often, humans are not perfect.

 

[Eskram]

The F150 has the same feature as well. It's easily disabled, but I can see it being helpful for some - New parents, a grandparent who rarely has a child in the car, not 'your' day with the kids, etc.

Sadly, kids die from this and it's a simple reminder for some that might save a life. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/hotcars/

 

[ChemGuy]

A lady in an adjacent town to me was just arrested for leaving her special needs child in the car for over an hour. Someone walked by the car and saw the child unresponsive, called the cops etc. Her reasoning was that she "didn't want to be late to her appointment" according to the radio station that had the report. It's been 90+ the last few days.

After having my son ~4 months ago I can't even imagine how someone forgets/leaves a child in the car. I know it happens more often that it should, I just can't understand how.

 

[Jimko]

Happens all the time unfortunately.

 

[powerboatr]

Happens all the time unfortunately.

yup
it sure does
especially with babies,
you know they are quiet, and that car seat is camouflaged

 

[Graygoose2021]

We have "smart" headlights, because there's always one ding dong that forgets...like don't drink battery fluids..why do we need these dumb labels. Because there are some idiots out there.

 

[dochawk]

I haven't seen it in decades, but you used to get an "it happened" article every year or two when a of ten or so left a kid behind at a gas station. Even in the 70s, that took two cars, so . . .

For that matter, in the biblical account of Jesus being "missing" while at the temple: at the time, family groups would travel together for such things, and it wouldn't be unusual for kid that age to be off with cousins in the caravan for a day or two without checking in!

 

[Eskram]

I haven't seen it in decades, but you used to get an "it happened" article every year or two when a of ten or so left a kid behind at a gas station. Even in the 70s, that took two cars, so . . .

For that matter, in the biblical account of Jesus being "missing" while at the temple: at the time, family groups would travel together for such things, and it wouldn't be unusual for kid that age to be off with cousins in the caravan for a day or two without checking in!

?

 

[SilverPigeon]

?

Now don't get me wrong, I like all of you ?. So, it's either an American thing I don't understand, or... now bear with me on this... he might be talking about cartridge alignment ?...

 

[dochawk]

the only cartridge in my near future is for the hall shower, to replace the one that lets hot water into the cold line affecting the other shower, too . . .

The first part, kids left behind, was in response to kids left in the vehicle. You can take off with too few kids, , too, especially when there are a lot of heads to count. These used to make the news every couple of years.

And the not counting kids properly led me to think of the account in Luke 2:41-52, when his parents couldn't find him while traveling. They eventually found him teaching the elders in the temple. While not being able to find your only kid seems shocking to today's ear, at the time, in the culture, extended families traveled together for that kind of trip of several days, and it wouldn't be uncommon at all for your kid to hang out for hours with relatives, so it would take time to realize he was missing.

So having the wrong count of kids falls into the "nothing new under" the sun category; it's been happening for thousands of years.

 

[TeamCanada]

If it saves 1 child from some dirtbag parent for not remebering they have a kid in the back seat. I'm all for it.
I turned mine off in my 21, as I am an old fart..... No little kids every in my truck anymore.

 

[SilverPigeon]

Thanks for explaining @dochawk Doc, and for being a good sport ?

 

[fordtruckman2003]

It can be turned off, but will come back in 6 months.

I'm all for the safety feature because every year there is another story about kids being left in cars.

 

[RGS88]

A lady in an adjacent town to me was just arrested for leaving her special needs child in the car for over an hour. Someone walked by the car and saw the child unresponsive, called the cops etc. Her reasoning was that she "didn't want to be late to her appointment" according to the radio station that had the report. It's been 90+ the last few days.

After having my son ~4 months ago I can't even imagine how someone forgets/leaves a child in the car. I know it happens more often that it should, I just can't understand how.

Those people should be next in line for the wood chipper, right after the pedos.

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