Retrofitting, Adding brake transmission-shift interlock?

[101Volts]

The point is: Little kids including ones who aren't closely related who may end up getting to a car while I'm not looking. I've seen at least five Rescue 911 episodes (Which are re-enactments of actual events though they did dramatize them a bit) in which little kids played around with car transmissions while the cars were on:

One nearly rammed a pregnant woman and a grocery store employee pushed her out of the way and was pinned between that car and the one he was loading up. (He recovered if I remember right.)
One nearly went into cross-traffic and a post-man stopped the car.
One DID go onto the road even though the parking brake was on (it failed) and a police man stopped it by blocking it with the car he was in.
One nearly went in traffic but a woman stopped it though she was run over in the process. (She recovered.)
I'm sure I can remember the fifth one too.
There's also a fictional movie in which a baby or toddler did that and a teenager on a skateboard crawled in through the sun-roof to stop the car; It would've been hit by a train otherwise.

I don't have kids around yet (I'm not even married) but I like the thought of having this in cars. That's while remembering to supervise them, The interlock is an extra provision. Thanks for the wheel-chocks suggestion, I do have some that can be used whether I stick this in said cars or not. However, I can think of situations where wheel-chocks aren't viable.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by 101Volts

The point is: Little kids including ones who aren't closely related who may end up getting to a car while I'm not looking. I've seen at least five Rescue 911 episodes (Which are re-enactments of actual events though they did dramatize them a bit) in which little kids played around with car transmissions while the cars were on:

There are 250,000 registered passenger vehicles in the US. The show is likely based on at least 10 years worth of cases. At that rate, statistically, you've got a 1 in 500,000 chance of this happening.

Transmission and clutch interlocks (for manuals) aren't required elsewhere in the world.

But an interlock is only a solenoid. You'd need to find something like a spring loaded shaft that locks the shifter, the solenoid, some wire, fuse and a relay. Start at the junk yard. Newer interlocks prevent you from removing the key if the car's not in park, that would be harder to do.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by t vago

As a father of 4 kids, I would say no. Those that would rely on mechanical junk to keep their kids safe, instead of... oh, I don't know... maybe actually SUPERVISING their children in the first place, should not either drive or have kids.

You know, nowadays some people seem to not know the difference between having a child and being a responsible parent, they try to throw their responsibilities away to the school, the baby-sitters, the television, and even to some random electromechanical safety feature because it's "easier".

[nemo]

Originally Posted by 101Volts

The point is: Little kids including ones who aren't closely related who may end up getting to a car while I'm not looking. I've seen at least five Rescue 911 episodes (Which are re-enactments of actual events though they did dramatize them a bit) in which little kids played around with car transmissions while the cars were on:

I think the fact that the cars were running is a major part of the problem. Kid should not be left in cars unsupervised running or not.

101Volts I do applaud your wanting to do something about what you perceive as a possibly dangerous situation.

[nemo]

Originally Posted by Simonas

I have a brilliant idea.

How about Americans start using the parking brake. You know, the little pedal on the left side. I still haven't figured out why people never seem to use them, even if they are at the top of a steep mountain road.

I wasn't taught to set the parking brake just leave it in gear (manual) unless on a steep hill. Started using it when I got my first car with a hand brake.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by nemo

I wasn't taught to set the parking brake just leave it in gear (manual) unless on a steep hill. Started using it when I got my first car with a hand brake.

I always set the parking brake, no matter if it's in a hill or not. I have driven mostly manuals anyway.