As temperatures soar this week, drivers are being urged to take extra care to avoid accidentally locking their loved ones, whether they’re children or pets, in their cars. The RAA has revealed concerning statistics, showing that last year alone, over 600 calls were made for help to free children and pets from locked vehicles in South Australia.
In 2024, RAA responded to 629 calls, with 287 involving children and 342 involving pets. The majority of these incidents were accidental, often caused by drivers forgetting their car keys inside the vehicle or giving them to young children in the back seat, only to forget they were there. Even pets have been known to accidentally lock themselves inside cars, such as when a dog steps on keys left on the centre console.
RAA Senior Traffic Engineer, Matt Vertudaches, is warning that leaving anyone in a car during hot weather can be extremely dangerous. He explained that inside a locked car, the temperature can quickly rise to more than double the outside temperature, with deadly consequences.
“When the weather is hot like it is this week, the temperature inside a locked car will climb to dangerous levels within minutes, and the consequences of leaving a loved one in there could be catastrophic,” Mr Vertudaches said. “RAA tests have shown it takes less than half an hour for in-cabin temperatures to reach more than 80 degrees on a 40-degree day.”
While parking in the shade may slow the heating process a little, it’s still risky. He stressed that even a few things going wrong could lead to a dangerous situation, so it’s essential to never leave children or pets in a hot car.
“RAA will prioritise jobs where a person or pet is locked in a vehicle and send two patrols out as soon as we can – and you don’t need to be a member,” Mr Vertudaches said. “However if you’re worried about the occupant being distressed or unsafe, call emergency services as they may be able to arrive faster with lights and sirens.”
Key Tips:
- Always keep your car keys with you.
- Never leave children or pets in a locked car, even if you’re just running a quick errand.
- Call RAA or emergency services if someone is locked in a hot vehicle.
RAA has been helping South Australians for over 100 years, and it’s committed to making sure everyone stays safe, especially in extreme weather conditions like those expected this week.
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