Rear seat reminders have proven to be useful, as sometimes young children or pets can be forgotten inside a car. Now, Volvo has announced the first system on earth that works with radar and which will be offered on the brand’s upcoming EX90 flagship electric SUV.

U.S. statistics show that since 1998, 900 children have died as a result of being left in a hot car and, in the majority of cases, they were simply forgotten. Volvo will, therefore, install 60 GHz sensors into the roof-mounted reading lamps in order to get as broad and complete view over the interior as possible.

Although this is by no means the first rear-seat reminder technology, it is the most advanced. The system has been designed to be able to measure with sub-millimeter accuracy, which means that it will be sensitive enough to detect the gentle breathing of a sleeping baby.

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“No one chooses to be distracted or tired, but we know it can happen,” said Lotta Jakobsson, Volvo’s senior technical specialist in injury prevention. “We’re all human and distraction is a fact of life. With the help of cutting-edge technology, we’ll support you when you’re not at your best and help you avoid leaving family members or pets behind by accident.”

In order to prevent the system from being too sensitive and causing “reminder fatigue,” it has been developed to only warn drivers that a living being is in the car when they try to lock it.

If someone is still inside, the doors will not lock, and the car will display a reminder to check the cabin for occupants. The vehicle’s climate control system can also stay on to improve comfort.

The system will come standard in the upcoming Volvo EX90 and other forthcoming models in all markets where 60 GHz frequency is approved by regulators.

“We’ve always been a leader in safety, and we want to continue protecting lives by setting new standards in automotive safety,” said Jakobsson. “That also means making you feel safe and giving you peace of mind. That type of emotional safety will help you enjoy life to the fullest, while at the same time helping you to prevent tragedies from happening.”

2024 Volvo EX90 rendering by Carscoops artist Josh Byrnes