Assembly Majority Office - 1/16/2018

The new law (A-155) requires the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, to establish a public awareness campaign to provide information to the general public concerning the dangers of leaving children unattended in and around motor vehicles and preventative measures that may be taken by parents or guardians to promote child safety and protect against unintended injury or death.

"When a small child is locked inside a car, vehicular heatstroke is a possibility - even if the temperature outside doesn't seem exceedingly hot," said Mukherji (D-Hudson). "In the same way that New Jersey has had campaigns to create awareness about the importance of wearing a seat belt and the danger of texting and driving, we need to ensure that parents recognize that leaving a child in a car for even a brief period of time can have devastating consequences."

The division will be required to provide printed and electronic educational materials concerning child safety in and around motor vehicles and to disseminate the materials to licensed child care centers and public venues throughout the state, as well as any means determined appropriate by the departments.