Parents have always had reasons to be concerned for their children's well being. Most parents are scared of their children being hit by a car without realizing that a dangerous threat lies in their own vehicle's back seat. Power windows are extremely dangerous and have been responsible for a number of fatalities in the U.S. What are they? They're that switch most likely located on the door handle of your car which allows you to press a button (most of them called rocker switches) for the window to automatically slide shut. Power windows can both open and close with the push of the button; they also use 22 to 80 pounds of weight and close in just six seconds. Sources cite that power windows can:

• Cause fractured limbs;
• Crushed bones;
• Lacerations; and
• Asphyxia

ABC also reports that in Colorado, a 3-year-old child died when the parent ran inside the house to grab something. When he came back out he found his daughters head lodged in between the window of the car. Power windows are so powerful that they can chop vegetables and are responsible for more than 500 people being rushed to the hospital a year. In 2007 it was estimated that there was an increase to 2,000 children facing yearly hospital visits due to power windows.

According to Consumer Union, over 50 children (and adults) have been killed or injured by the device. ABC News alleges that at least 33 have died since 2001. In fact, these devices are so hazardous to children that that the NHTSA and the U.S Department of Transportation have banned taggle and rocker switches from vehicles created in the U.S. This was put in effect on April 12 2006 and has affected the interior of all U.S. made vehicles: the new cost to car manufacturers is eight ten dollars for the changes.

Apparently in Europe, 80 percent of cars have these new safety precaution windows; Asia and Canada also have these new safety designs in their car, while 10 to 15 percent of cars in North America have the feature. ABC reported that the Automobile Alliance (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler) stated that as soon as they heard of the power windows threat they began removing them from their manufacturer plans. Though this May there was a rule denied through the NHTSA that would have made power windows automatically detract if a limb or a head was put in the path of a window. Apparently, sources alleged that the rule would not have been an effective tool to help child fatality rates to decrease.

A positive manufacturer's aspect about most cars is that they were created with the ability to turn the power window amenity off; what should be noted is that when the power window is active it can still be activated when the engine is in use. In a recent study, power windows were named in the top 15 dangers to children, ranking at number 14. Also, another poll taken said that 75 percent of Americans were unaware of the dangers that power windows posed. One source suggested that if parents were looking for a new vehicle that they specifically take note where the window and rocker switches were located. If parents use the lock out switch, which is a function to control all the windows in the car from the driver's seat, that it is imperative to watch children before operating. Yet, sources agree that the safest thing a parent can do is to never leave a child in the car unsupervised.