At what age can a child be left alone in a parked car?
I have heard that in some areas it is illegal to leave a child unattended in a car, even for an instant, and possibly even if you are within direct sight of the care. It seems that the laws for this vary from area to area.
Barring specific laws, how old should a child be before they are left alone in a car? Under what circumstances is this acceptable (within sight, out of sight but reachable by cell phone, under a certain duration, etc.)?
At what point does an older sibling being present count as not leaving a younger child alone?
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In the UK the laws don't really specify, but there is a great deal of emphasis on the child's capability.
For example, we let our 10 and 12 year old cycle to the shop by themselves (about a mile away) but we wouldn't leave them alone in a car for that length of time or at that distance - the risk profile is different.
When they were babies, if they fell asleep in the car on the way home we would leave them in the car with a window ajar, parked in front of the house so we could check on them regularly.
A baby strapped into a car seat is in most situations a much lower risk than a teenager, who may want to play with the handbrake etc. so age isn't necessarily what you should focus on.
In Maryland (USA), there is a law that makes it illegal.
Children under the age of 8 may not be left unattended in a motor vehicle. A child is considered supervised if accompanied by someone age 13 or older.
www.safekids.org/in-your-area/safety-laws/maryland-unattended-children-in-cars-law-156.html
There's nothing special about a car. Alone at home, alone in a car, alone in the mall - they're all the same from a legal standpoint.
Back when I was babysitting age, 12 was the magic age. At 12 you could babysit a sibling or a stranger, or you could be left alone. That was also the age the airlines used to define unaccompanied minor. The law where you live may declare something similar, or may not specify an age. Twelve seems reasonable to me, for most 12-year-olds anyway and for short periods of time alone. I don't think I'd leave an infant with a 12 year old though.
I doubt there is any definitive literature out there on this, so answers will be somewhat subjective. I think the maturity of the child is the primary factor in this kind of decision. Barring laws against it and extreme weather of any kind:
Within reach (as in, you prop open the door and sit within a few feet while they finish a nap or pretend to drive the car) - any age
Within sight (as in, you are in the house but can see them through the window, the car windows are down and the car is inaccessible to strangers) - age 7 or 8. This is the age we allow children to be in the library where I work without having their parents in the same area. It is an age at which children can call out for help.
Out of sight but reachable by cell phone - 12 to 14, which is the age at which you might leave them alone at home. 12 to 14 year-olds are capable of using the cell phone and of locking the door to safeguard themselves. Duration depends on maturity and the location of the car. Some children would be okay left in pairs though not alone.
In all cases, the keys are not in the car with the child.
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