The Knesset Committee for Children’s Rights held a special session to discuss the alarming trend of forgetting children in a vehicle.

During the session, MK (Yahadut Hatorah) attacked the Ministry of Transportation for he feels the ministry is constantly questions how and why parents forget children. “It is not your job to be the instructor of the parents or to ask why they do not purchase some type of warning apparatus. There are 1001 excuses but ultimately, I believe you (Transportation Ministry) are responsible”, he exclaimed.

Maklev’s angry response was to Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz’s decision not to order a mandatory device warning against forgetting a child in private vehicles. Katz explains the manufacturers of devices are hesitant to have their devices approved by the Taf Teken (Israel’s Underwriter’s Laboratory) for fear if something happens to a child, they will face a lawsuit for the device failing.

Maklev added that ministry officials have signaled they will demand some sort of device to prevent these cases, which are at times fatal, but now, the minister announces this is not the case.

There was also an effort to hold kindergarten teachers responsible for reporting if a child did not arrive, calling a parent or guardian but they rejected the plan outright, fearing they will be held criminally liable should something occur.

It was however decided that the ministry will embark on a clear campaign to get the message out, a media campaign that will begin in a week.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)