U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation Monday that would require all new passenger vehicles to be equipped with cameras, sensors, or other technology to prevent the death of children due to frontover incidents, according to a press release. 

“This mandate for detection devices like cameras or sensors will save lives,” said Blumenthal in the release. “Large blind zones around cars are reportedly resulting in heartbreaking incidents — needlessly killing or severely injuring kids. Safety is not — and should never be — a premium feature only available to those who can afford it; it should be the default. I’m proud to lead the STOP Frontovers Act to require a visibility and perception standard for cars to help prevent tragic, deadly accidents.”

If passed by Congress, the STOP Frontovers Act would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) within one year of enactment. A final rule would be required one year later. 

The FMVSS would require vehicles to be equipped with technology that establishes a perception zone that detects other motor vehicles, pedestrians including toddlers and small children, bicyclists, a wheelchair or assistive device user, motorcycle riders, or any other equipment, vehicle or animal as determined by NHTSA. 

The technology should include a driver notification system and an active intervention system, the legislation says. This should include distinct auditory and visual alerts which may be combined with haptic alert. 

NHTSA also will be required to define “frontover.” 

“Such visibility technology, such as cameras and sensors, is offered by some manufacturers but usually only on expensive, upgraded models or for an additional fee,” the release says. 

Blumenthal sent a letter to NHTSA in 2022 that addressed his concerns with frontover incidents. At the time, NHTSA agreed to look into his concerns. 

Multiple auto and consumer safety organizations endorsed the act in the press release. 

“As vehicles have become larger, so have front and side blind zones as demonstrated by research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and others,” said Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, in the release. “As a result, vulnerable road users, especially small children, may not be visible to the driver thus endangering them to be hit by the vehicle. We commend Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) for introducing The STOP Frontovers Act which will require technology in new cars to prevent these crashes and heartbreaking tragedies. The STOP Frontovers Act should be given the ‘green light’ to better protect all road users.”

Following legislation, NHTSA issued a final rule in 2014 that required rear visibility technology in all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds manufactured on or after May 1, 2018. 

NHTSA also recently finalized an FMVSS that will require AEB and pedestrian AEB to come standard by September 2029 on all passenger cars and light trucks weighing up to 10,000 pounds.

Late last month, NHTSA denied a petition from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (Auto Innovators) that asked the agency to reconsider portions of the mandate. 

The standard will require AEB to engage at up to 90 mph when a collision with a lead vehicle is imminent, and up to 45 mph when a pedestrian is detected.

In a June 24 letter to Congress, Auto Innovators President and CEO John Bozzella said the speed requirements are “practically impossible with available technology” and would result in more rear-end collisions. The rule would also cost OEMs $200-$4,200 in hardware plus software changes that won’t improve driver or pedestrian safety and will increase the cost of vehicles for consumers, according to the petition to NHTSA.

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