We are talking about children being left alone in vehicles, not an adult struck by lightning or any of the other things brought up in this thread.

If one has to cross a very busy street, don't go there while you have your child with you. Leave them with a family member at home or with a caregiver of some sort, plan your trip so that you don't even have to consider leaving them in the car. And, don't tell me it's impossible. I was a single mom of three and never left them alone in a car. Good heavens, if you have a child, use your head and take good care of them. Common sense says do not leave young ones unattended, period.

From www.missingkids.com:

The U.S. Department of Justice reports

    * 797,500 children (younger than 18) were reported missing in a one-year period of time studied resulting in an average of 2,185 children being reported missing each day.
    * 203,900 children were the victims of family abductions.
    * 58,200 children were the victims of non-family abductions.
    * 115 children were the victims of "stereotypical" kidnapping. (These crimes involve someone the child does not know or someone of slight acquaintance, who holds the child overnight, transports the child 50 miles or more, kills the child, demands ransom, or intends to keep the child permanently.)


That's too many if you ask me, even one is too many. Adults who are responsible for children need to do everything they can to keep them safe. And, before you say it, NO! I do not mean lock them up and never let them go anywhere.