Rome: An Italian law seeking to prevent the death from heatstroke of children forgotten in car seats entered into force on Thursday.
In Italy, and elsewhere in the world, there have been cases of children dying inside locked vehicles, usually after their one of their parents forgot about them.
Starting from November 7, car seats for children under four will have to have a warning system that will kick into action if the child is abandoned in the car.
For example, a parent who walks away from their vehicle, leaving their child on the child seat, will get an alarm call via their mobile phone.
Andrea Albanese, a man who has campaigned for the law after forgetting his two-year-old son in a locked car for several hours, causing his death, said Italy is setting an example.
"We are the first country in Europe and I think in the world to adopt such a law," Albanese, whose son died in 2013 told the ANSA news agency earlier this month.
Albanese was acquitted of manslaughter for his son's death as judges were told by a psychiatrist that his forgetfulness was due to "dissociative amnesia."
Those found in breach of the new law will face fines of 81-326 euros (90-360 dollars) and a five-point deduction from their driving licence.
The warning systems cost around 50 euros but the government plans to introduce a 30-euro subsidy for their purchase.
Hot car deaths in Italy are relatively rare: there have been fewer than 10 cases in the past 10 years. In the US, there have been 848 cases since 1998, according to the noheatstroke.org website.
