What Euro NCAP 2026 Says About Child Presence Detection

Each year, an average of 37 children in the U.S. alone die from heatstroke after being left in parked vehicles. And while the numbers are small compared to crash fatalities, the heartbreak is compounded by how easily these deaths could have been prevented.

In its 2026 protocol, Euro NCAP reinforces its focus on Child Presence Detection (CPD), awarding systems that not only detect a child but also act when it matters. For automakers and suppliers, that means proving their tech works under real conditions – and fast.

For an overview of Euro NCAP’s 2026 updates, including driver monitoring, child presence detection, airbag adaptation and more, read the first blog in our Euro NCAP 2026 series.

Where CPD Fits into the 2026 Assessment

Child Presence Detection has been part of Euro NCAP’s safety assessment for a few years. But in 2026, it becomes even more clearly defined, contributing up to five points as part of the Occupant Monitoring category.

The update continues to move away from indirect methods and sets a clear expectation: CPD systems must detect a child’s presence directly – through movement, breathing, or heartbeat – and function across all seating positions.

What CPD Systems Are Expected to Do

To earn points under the 2026 protocol, Child Presence Detection systems must meet a range of functional and coverage requirements, including:

 Detect two key scenarios:

• A child left behind in a locked vehicle

• A child who enters an unlocked vehicle and becomes trapped

Cover all relevant areas inside the vehicle:

• All seating positions, including optional and removable seats

• Footwells and the driver’s seat

• The luggage area is excluded

Detect children up to and including six years old

Rely on direct sensing methods, such as:

• Movement

• Breathing

• Heartbeat

Be default ON at the start of every trip

Why Rear-Seat Reminders Aren’t Enough

Rear-seat reminders may prompt drivers to check the back seat, but they don’t actually detect whether a child is there. Most of these systems rely on indirect cues – like whether a rear door was opened before a trip – and make assumptions based on usage patterns.

Under Euro NCAP’s 2026 protocol, that’s not enough. To score CPD points, systems must confirm the presence of a child using direct detection methods. That means identifying real physiological signs like movement or breathing – not inferring risk based on recent door activity.

For car manufacturers, this rules out older solutions that were designed to tick a box. The new criteria demand a system that knows when a child is in the car and triggers an appropriate response.

Timing and Alerts: How Fast CPD Systems Need to Respond

Euro NCAP’s 2026 protocol lays out detailed requirements not only for how CPD systems detect a child, but also for how quickly they react and how alerts are delivered.

 Locked vehicles:

• A warning must begin within 15 seconds of detecting a child after the vehicle is locked

 Unlocked vehicles:

• If a child is detected after doors are closed (but not locked), the system must issue a warning within 10 minutes

 Initial alert:

• Must include a visual or audible signal from the vehicle (e.g. beeping, flashing lights)

• Must be noticeable from outside the car and last at least 3 seconds

• Can be delayed once by the driver for up to 10 minutes, but only through a deliberate action

 Escalation warning:

• If child presence continues, the system must begin escalating within 90 seconds of the initial warning ending or being cancelled

• Alerts must repeat every minute for at least 20 minutes, each lasting a minimum of 15 seconds

• A visible message (e.g. “Check the seats”) must also be displayed inside the vehicle and be readable from outside

 Optional escalation channels:

• Notifications to a mobile app

• Haptic or audible feedback on the vehicle key

• Alerts sent through connected services or third-party contacts

• The goal is to make sure a warning reaches someone who can intervene – whether that’s the driver, a caregiver, or someone nearby

How to Earn Full CPD Points

Detection and alerts are the baseline. But to secure all five points, the vehicle must also take action.

Euro NCAP awards additional points for intervention features – responses that help protect the child while waiting for help or make it easier for someone to intervene.

These can include:

 Activating climate control to manage cabin temperature
 Unlocking doors to allow access to the vehicle
 Triggering remote alerts to caregivers or emergency contacts through a connected app

Timing matters here, too. Interventions must begin within 10 minutes of locking the vehicle or within 5 minutes of the first escalation warning – whichever comes first. If the cabin temperature reaches a dangerous level, the system must respond immediately.

A Clearer Path to Safer Vehicles

The 2026 protocol may not introduce Child Presence for the first time, but it does set a higher standard for what these systems need to do. From direct detection methods to timed alerts and active intervention, Euro NCAP has helped define what effective CPD looks like.

For automakers and in-cabin tech providers, this should serve as an even stronger motivation to build effective systems to detect when a child is left behind and take action quickly.

To learn more about Euro NCAP’s 2026 updates, find the full assessment protocols on Euro NCAP’s website.