How did the 'baby on board' sign come about?
The history of baby on board signs
The idea was born from the personal experience and desire of American, Michael Lerner, a former real-estate investor.
It all started in 1984, when Michael drove his 18-month-old nephew home for the first time. He had to negotiate busy traffic, with motorists tailgating and cutting him off throughout the trip. “For the first time, I felt like a parent feels when they have a kid in the car,” he said.
Around the same time, he was introduced to sisters Patricia and Helen Bradley. The sisters had seen a version of this sign in Europe and tried to market it back in the United States, with limited success.
Michael saw a business opportunity in safety signs for car windows and struck up a licensing deal for the rights to the product from the sisters. He founded the company Safety 1st and, using his contacts in the retail industry, he started pitching to big department stores.
The first 'Baby on board' sign was produced in the same year and within a month 10,000 were sold. Demand continued to ramp up and soon the company was selling 500,000 signs a month.
What’s the purpose of baby on board signs?
Many people have come to think a ‘baby on board’ sign is there to alert emergency services that a small child could be in a vehicle (and potentially overlooked), but NSW police have confirmed this is not the case.
"The sign is not for emergency services, but more of a notice to other drivers. Anyone using these signs must ensure they are not obstructing the driver's view," a spokesperson for NSW Police said.
According to Safety 1st, the idea behind the 'Baby on board' sign was to “encourage drivers to use caution when approaching cars with younger passengers”.
Over the years, millions of parents have purchased the sign worldwide, with various copies and imitations created, but the original yellow signs are still produced today.
Are there any other types of safety stickers or warning signs used on vehicles?
Stickers and warning signs are still used on vehicles to identify potential hazards or to provide additional care. Some of these include:
- Electric and hybrid vehicles: Since January 1, 2019, all new hybrid and electric cars in NSW must show EV triangles and hexagons for hybrids on front and rear number plates (rear only for bikes and scooters). The rule has been enforced since January 1, 2020. These warning signs help first responders identify cars with large battery packs that may need disabling in a crash. Initially these stickers were adhesive and affixed by the dealer or owner, but now these symbols stamped in the number plate during the manufacturing process.
- Autism awareness stickers: For parents and caregivers of children on the autism spectrum, car stickers can be lifesaving. In an accident, they alert first responders that a child may not respond to verbal queries or commands, allowing them to provide the appropriate care where necessary.
- Do not overtake turning vehicles: Any vehicle 7.5 metres or longer must display the words ‘DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE’ on one of the rear marking plates, as such vehicles often need to occupy additional lanes to safely complete a turn.
You must not pass such a vehicle on the left if it is turning left. You also must not pass on the right if it is turning right, unless it is safe. Failing to do so carries a fine of up to $330 and two demerit points in NSW.
Do you take notice when you see a baby on board sign? As a parent, do you think this has made your trip safer? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Share your experience and join the conversation with us on Facebook.
