NRMA issues warning ahead of summer as more than 4000 kids, pets, left in hot cars

The NRMA has issued a stark warning to drivers, as the huge number of children and pets locked in cars over the past year is revealed.

The NRMA has issued a fresh warning to motorists ahead of summer, urging people to double-check they haven’t locked any pets or children in their car.

The roadside assistance company said it had responded to 4265 calls where a child or pet had been locked inside a car in the past 12 months.

The company said in most cases, the drivers of the car had accidentally locked their keys inside.

Keep a window open, like this Bondi motorist, if you must leave a pet or child in the car. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

NRMA road safety expert Dimitra Vlahomitros said the temperature inside a hot car could almost double the outside temperature, and it didn’t take long to kill a child or pet.

“Everyone has gotten in their car after a warm day and felt the scorching heat in the car or the burn of their seatbelt,” Ms Vlahomitros said.

“It’s a recipe for disaster if a child or a pet is accidentally locked in.”

The sweltering Australian heat isn’t far off this summer. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Ms Vlahomitros said the two most common places the NRMA was called to were homes or shopping centres.

“Whether your packing the car full of groceries or packing the car for a holiday, make sure you know where the keys are and don’t leave your keys with children to play with while loading up the car,” she said.

Leaving a child unattended inside a locked car is illegal and can attract fines of up to $22,000.

Last year, then NSW police minister David Elliott supported the idea that citizens could smash the windscreen of a stranger’s car, before the arrival of police or emergency services, if the situation required.

Aaron Hill has been charged with manslaughter over the death of Rylee Rose Black, who was left in a car for at least 6 hours. Picture: Facebook

Rylee Rose Black

The NRMA’s warning comes as Townsville man Aaron Hill was ordered to stand trial over the death of three-year-old Rylee Rose Black, who died after she was left inside a hot car.

Mr Hill and Rylee Rose’s mother, Laura Black, have both been charged with manslaughter.

Prosecutors allege the toddler was buckled into a booster seat for about four hours in Townsville in November 2020.

Originally published as NRMA issues warning ahead of summer as more than 4000 kids, pets, left in hot cars