Rear Seat Reminder is a new feature being unveiled on a host of GM vehicles in 2017. This industry-first feature is designed to remind drivers to check the back seat for groceries, pets or kids that could potentially be left in the back seat.

As GM notes, 39 children died from heatstroke in 2016, which is a 60 percent increase from the prior year. The Rear Seat Reminder system monitors rear door usage to remind drivers to check their rear seats before walking away from their vehicles.

“GM’s Rear Seat Reminder feature is an initial step to use technology to help remind drivers to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle under certain conditions,” said Jeff Boyer, vice president of GM Global Vehicle Safety. “We want to help everyone to take one simple, extra step. That’s why Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac will offer the Rear Seat Reminder on a broad range of vehicles, from small cars to full-size SUVs and everything in between.”

Rear Seat Reminder first debuted on the all-new 2017 GMC Acadia, but it will expands to wide range of other vehicles in the GM family:
– 2017 Buick Lacrosse
– 2017 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV
– 2017 Cadillac CT6
– 2017 Chevrolet Cruze and Cruze Hatchback
– 2017 Chevrolet Malibu
– 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
– 2017 Chevrolet Suburban
– 2017 Chevrolet Silverado
– 2017 Chevrolet Colorado
– 2017 GMC Yukon
– 2017 GMC Yukon XL
– 2017 GMC Sierra
– 2017 GMC Canyon
– 2018 Cadillac XT5
– 2018 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V
– 2018 Cadillac ATS
– 2018 Chevrolet Equinox

GM notes that Rear Seat Reminder works by monitoring the vehicle’s rear doors, and it will activate when either rear door is opened and closed up to 10 minutes before the vehicle is started or while the vehicle is running. Once activated, five chimes and a message display in the driver information center will indicate “Rear Seat Reminder / Look in Rear Seat” the next time the vehicle is turned off.

“This new technology developed by General Motors will give busy parents and caregivers the important reminder to always check the back seat,” said Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. “The safest way to protect a child from heatstroke is to never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, and features like Rear Seat Reminder, coupled with continued public education, can help combat this preventable tragedy.”