“Each year, hundreds of young lives are lost due to preventable injuries involving automobiles,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “The simple safety measures put forth in this bill can prevent many of these tragedies from happening.  It’s time Congress acted to bring about these reforms.”

            The Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act of 2007 would require safety features in new cars to prevent accidental strangulation by power windows, prevent injuries to children caught behind a backing vehicle, and prevent children from inadvertently shifting a car into gear.  The measure also establishes a child safety information program to collect and distribute information to parents on preventing these types of injuries.  Since 2000, more than 1,000 children have died in non-traffic, non-crash related accidents.

            The bill is named after a 2-year old whose father accidentally backed over him in the driveway.  In Montana, a similar tragedy struck the family of Madison Faith Chatten, who was 14-months old when she was struck and killed in Glasgow, in May, 2005.  Madison’s father, Aaron Chatten, established a foundation in his daughter’s name, and has lobbied Congress to enact stricter safety standards for automobile makers.