The original intent with the signs was to let first responders know if there was a baby in the car or not. If you had a baby in the car, you would flip it to “baby on board”, otherwise you flip it to “baby not on board”. Instead it became a way for breeders to signal to the world that they successfully procreated.
This stems from a 2006 accident in Texas, an infant was ejected from a car seat during a rollover crash. The first responders didn’t find the baby on scene and decided that the car seat must have been empty. A few days later, the baby was found dead near the scene.
Now the rule is that, if there’s a car seat there’s a baby. If the car seat is empty, you keep looking until you find the baby. The best thing parents can do is out a stuffed animal in the car seat, this let’s first responders know that there isn’t a baby to look for.
I stand corrected, apparently the sign originated before the rollover accident.
The change in how empty car seats are handled was heavily covered during my EMT and paramedic training, although the story could be apocryphal. I remember hearing about it, but couldn’t find a solid reference on wayback machine.
The original intent with the signs was to let first responders know if there was a baby in the car or not. If you had a baby in the car, you would flip it to “baby on board”, otherwise you flip it to “baby not on board”. Instead it became a way for breeders to signal to the world that they successfully procreated.
This stems from a 2006 accident in Texas, an infant was ejected from a car seat during a rollover crash. The first responders didn’t find the baby on scene and decided that the car seat must have been empty. A few days later, the baby was found dead near the scene.
Now the rule is that, if there’s a car seat there’s a baby. If the car seat is empty, you keep looking until you find the baby. The best thing parents can do is out a stuffed animal in the car seat, this let’s first responders know that there isn’t a baby to look for.
I always understood them as a way to signal to other drivers the reason for driving slow and / or more defensive.
That’s cause you’re right. Same function as the Student Driver sticker.
I stand corrected, apparently the sign originated before the rollover accident.
The change in how empty car seats are handled was heavily covered during my EMT and paramedic training, although the story could be apocryphal. I remember hearing about it, but couldn’t find a solid reference on wayback machine.
Woah. This makes so much more sense. Cool explanation! Thanks!