Hyderabad: Following a string of heartbreaking incidents where children died from suffocation after being trapped in locked vehicles, the Cyberabad Police has issued a public advisory urging citizens to exercise extreme caution.
In its advisory, police called these incidents “preventable” and stressed the need for responsible behaviour by all vehicle owners and caretakers. Key among the instructions: always inspect the vehicle front and back before locking it.
Drivers are advised to make it a routine to check both front and rear seats before exiting. Citizens have also been strongly warned against leaving children alone inside a vehicle, even for a short while. Car keys should be kept well out of children’s reach to avoid accidental access.
Parents and vehicle owners have been urged to teach children that cars are not a place to play or hide, and that they should never enter a vehicle unattended. Before locking any parked vehicle at home or outside adults must ensure no child or pet is left behind.
In cases where multiple adults are travelling with a child, police advise assigning clear responsibility to one person, rather than assuming someone else has taken the child out of the vehicle.
The advisory also recommends installing safety systems like rear-seat alerts or child presence detectors that can send real-time alerts if someone is left behind in the car.
Police further warned against the use of dark-tinted windows or sun films, as these reduce visibility and can prevent passersby from noticing if someone is trapped inside.
The message is simple but vital: Lock your vehicle responsibly. Every time.
