Interesting point. I think that forty or fifty years ago
(a) no cars had air-conditioning so we left the windows open most of the time, even when the car was parked. We were less worried about car theft then.
(b) Very few mothers of small children worked and drove their children around to drop off somewhere.
Good points, but you also have to keep in mind that cars were a lot bigger then as well. When I was a kid I used to ride around in the back of a Ford LTD II Wagon, almost 100 yards from the driver's seat. It's a miracle I was never forgotten in the car, much less lost in it!
Did this type of thing happen back in the 50’s, 60’s 70s like it does now?
Interesting point. I think that forty or fifty years ago
(a) no cars had air-conditioning so we left the windows open most of the time, even when the car was parked. We were less worried about car theft then.
(b) Very few mothers of small children worked and drove their children around to drop off somewhere.
C People were not mandated by law to strap kids into a car seat in the back of the car where they could be more easily forgotten.
Kids weren’t stapped in car seats until the 70’s.