As summer heats up, parents and pet owners are being reminded to stay vigilant about where they leave their car keys, as the risk of accidentally locking kids or pets inside vehicles increases.
Over the past year, NRMA patrols have responded to nearly 1,850 cases of children or pets stuck in cars. In most instances, it wasn’t intentional—just a case of keys accidentally getting locked inside during busy moments.
With temperatures expected to soar above 30 degrees in many parts of New South Wales next week, extra caution is crucial, especially when loading or unloading kids and pets.
NRMA road safety expert Dimitra Vlahomitros explained that the temperature inside a car can rise to nearly double the outside temperature in no time, putting children and pets in serious danger.
“When you're packing groceries or getting ready for a trip, always know where your keys are,” she advised. “And don’t let kids play with the keys while you’re loading the car. Modern technology doesn’t always prevent you from accidentally locking the keys inside, especially if little hands are involved.”
NRMA patroller Tony Tamine said cases involving children or pets locked in cars are always treated as top priority.
“When we get a call about a child locked in a car, it jumps to the front of the queue,” he said. “Our patrols are trained to handle these situations quickly and calmly. Often, the parents are more stressed than the child or pet inside.”
If a child appears visibly distressed, the advice is to call Triple Zero immediately.
“Emergency services can often arrive faster in urgent cases by using lights and sirens,” Tamine added.
So, as the summer heat ramps up, a simple habit like keeping track of your keys can make all the difference. Stay safe!
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