Leaving Children Behind in Cars

Budget Brakes is here to protect your family. That's why we want to remind you of the "zero second" rule for leaving children unattended in cars. Budget Brakes firmly believes that, for their safety, children should never be left alone, unattended, for any reason.
In 2009, non-profit organization Harrison's Hope documented 789 children left unattended in or around cars and 146 children who lost their lives in these incidents. Budget Brakes encourages parents to realize that these deaths are not accidental, they are neglectful. If every parent put forth the effort required to unbuckle a car seat and carry his or her child inside for a two-minute trip to the ATM or convenience store, hundreds of children's lives would be saved every year.
KidsAndCars.org, an advocacy organization, also recommends two crucial car habits to avoid accidentally leaving a child behind.
• Keep something you'll need for work in the back seat of the car, like a cell phone or employee badge.
• Keep a large teddy bear in the child's car seat when it is not occupied and in the passenger's seat of the car when the child is occupying the car seat. This serves as a visual reminder that the child is in the back.
The next time you consider leaving your child in the car, Budget Brakes hopes that you remember the zero second rule: a child should never spend time alone in a car for any reason.