Tesla bringing crucial child safety feature to more models

Children locked in cars occasionally make the headlines, usually ending in fatalities. However, more Tesla cars will soon be equipped to prevent such occurrences as the company starts updating the refreshed Model Y with a child presence detection feature. More model versions will get the potentially life-saving feature soon.

Tesla is achieving this by enabling a cabin radar, the underlying technology for detecting passengers. When a locked car determines a child is present, it can alert the owner through the mobile app or switch on the HVAC system. It can also contact emergency services and report its location to facilitate a rescue.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), no fewer than 37 child passengers succumb to heat stroke every year in the US after being forgotten in a vehicle.

Other models that will get the child safety feature include recent Model Ys, Model 3s, and the Cybertruck. Some of these versions have been confirmed to have the necessary hardware.

Cabin radar will also help classify passengers based on size to determine how airbags are deployed. This will enhance safety during crashes.