Toyota will equipped the 2025 Sienna with a headliner sensor that will detect and alert drivers who forget children or pets in the backseat, which will hopefully cut down on hot-car deaths.
The Advanced Rear Seat Reminder will utilize a 60GHz band radar sensor mounted above the vehicle’s headliner to scan and detect movement in the second and third row seats. If it senses movement in the scanned area after the ignition is turned off, the driver’s door has been opened then closed, and the vehicle has been locked, it will flash the hazard lights and sound the door lock chime.
About 90 seconds after the initial warning, if the movement is still detected, the system will sound the horn as part of an escalation of warnings.
If the driver has registered for Safety Connect and opted into Advanced Rear Seat Reminder notifications via the Toyota app, about four minutes after the escalation warning starts, the vehicle can send a push notification and/or text message to the mobile number saved in the user’s account.
Finally, after an additional two minutes, the saved contact number will receive an automated phone call.
Toyota says Advanced Rear Seat Reminder is better than existing ultrasonic systems because it uses millimeter-wave radar, which can detect occupants in low-light scenarios and even those hidden beneath objects, like blankets.
The feature is standard and will remain active for customers up to 10 years or through the life of 4G connectivity, Toyota said in a news release announcing the feature.
Since the late 1990s the U.S. has seen an average of 37 children die each year from heatstroke after being left unattended in a vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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