2019 Four-door Nissan Models to Be Equipped with Standard Rear Door Alert Tech
Nissan Rear Door Alert technology to be standard on four-door 2019 models
A life-saving technology, Rear Door Alert, will be standard on 2019 Nissan four-door models. The industry-first warning system employs door sensors, a clear message on the instrument panel, and the horn to remind drivers to look in the backseat after putting their car in park. RDA made its standard debut in last year’s Pathfinder, and along with the 2019 Altima and Rogue, a total of eight vehicles will boast this impressive technology. The helpful system will eventually make its way into SUV, sedans, and four-door trucks by 2022.
“I’m proud to see Nissan lead the way by making Rear Door Alert standard on more models,” said Marlene Mendoza, a mechanical engineer who helped create the technology. “What started as a chat with my colleague, Elsa Foley, is now innovative technology being adopted in more Nissan models. It is a testament to Nissan’s culture.”
According to Mendoza, the inspiration for the innovative and patented technology came from one simple oversight. “The idea was inspired when I accidentally left a pan of lasagna in the back seat of my car overnight,” added Mendoza, a mother of three, who was pregnant when the idea struck. “The worst thing was the car smelled for days, but it made me ask myself, ‘What if I left something far more important back there?'”
Since the internal temperature of a vehicle can cause severe, potentially fatal, harm to children and pets left behind in vehicles, RDA is a technology drivers and their loved ones will greatly appreciate. “If you open a rear door and put something in the rear seat, Rear Door Alert will help you remember when you get to your destination that you may have forgotten it,” Mendoza said. “By drawing attention back to the vehicle while the driver is walking away, the honking alerts you to recheck the back seat in addition to visual or interior audible alerts.”
Drivers with RDA-enabled Nissan vehicles do have the option to permanently or temporarily disengage the automatic alerts.
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