If you’re the type of person who tends to forget things you put in the back seat of your car, buying a 2017 GMC Acadia with its industry-first Rear Seat Reminder system, might be helpful.
The all-new Acadia will now remind drivers to check the back seat as they prepare to exit the vehicle under certain circumstances. To get the ball rolling, GM wants the public to be aware of the fact that half of the children under the age of 14 that die of in-vehicle heatstroke, do so because their parents or guardians forgot them inside the car. Also, according to the FBI, nearly 23% of larceny in 2014 was car-related as items left in the back seat can easily be targeted by thieves.
“Acadia drivers live busy lives with demanding schedules, and the Rear Seat Reminder helps protect the things we care about most,” explained Tricia Morrow, GM global safety strategy engineer. “Whether it’s your lunch, laptop, pet or most importantly, your child, it’s easier than it seems to forget what’s in the back seat when moving between life’s events. With this new feature, we are leading the charge to address this ongoing problem.”
The way the system works is by monitoring the Acadia’s rear doors, and activating when either rear door is opened and closed within 10 minutes before the car is started – or if they are opened/closed while on the move. With that in mind, the next time the vehicle is turned off following a “door activation”, the Acadia will sound five audible chimes and remind the driver to look behind him, by showing him a message in the information center.
Despite its usefulness, it’s important that drivers remember that this system is just a reminder, and that it will not directly detect items in the backseat.
This industry-first feature comes as standard on the all-new 2017 Acadia crossover.
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