Summer car lock-in warning

Inadvertently locking your child or a pet in the car can be distressing, and on a warm or hot day the situation can quickly escalate into a medical emergency.

On a 32-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can reach 40 degrees Celsius in as little as seven minutes.

As children are unable to regulate their body temperature as effectively as adults, heatstroke can occur much more quickly. Pets such as dogs also struggle to regulate their body temperature in these conditions.

If you do experience a lock-in this summer, call RAC’s Roadside Assistance on 13 11 11. We prioritise child and pet lock-ins over other callouts so we can get to you as soon as possible.

RAC also extends this emergency service to the rest of the community, with membership not required.

In the year to June 2025, our Roadside Assistance patrols attended 311 ‘locked in vehicle’ events in the Perth metropolitan area alone, rescuing 145 children, 132 pets and even 36 adults.

The auto-locking function in many modern cars, which relocks the doors after a set interval, has increased the incidence of lock-ins so it is important that motorists familiarise themselves with their car’s locking system. This information is available in the owner’s manual.

When away from home and using your car, always keep your key fob on you – avoid putting it down anywhere in the car or letting children handle it. It’s also recommended you keep your car keys out of reach at home to prevent a curious child from getting into your car without you knowing.

Remember - if a life is in danger, call triple zero immediately.