Alarms to stop children being left alone in cars

Italy has introduced a regulation requiring drivers to equip car seats with an alarm designed to prevent children being left alone in vehicles, after a spate of heatwave deaths.

Fines of between €81 (£70) and €326 will be due if the car is not equipped with the device, and offenders will lose five points on their licence, the transport ministry said.

The alarm, which must be fitted on car seats for children under the age of four, uses vibrating audio and visual signals.