Congress approved a bill that President George W. Bush is expected to sign, which will mandate blind-spot-detection equipment on all new vehicles early in the coming decade.

Additionally the bill requires that automatic windows be "pinch proof," meaning that the windows reverse when an obstacle is sensed and that all vehicles have an interlock system making it impossible to disengage the car from park without the brake pedal being depressed.

When approved, the legislation will direct the preparation of industry standards for rear detection systems and other elements by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most of the mandated features are currently available as options with rear-detection systems being present mainly in more expensive vehicles.

The Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers reacted to the pending legislation in a statement issued by the group's president, Dave McCurdy.

"This industry is 100 percent behind this legislation and we're committed to using these initiatives to further enhance child safety in and around motor vehicles," said McCurdy. "We applaud Congress for working with the Administration, the industry and others who share our concern for safety to produce this comprehensive approach to enhancing child safety."

The statement went on to emphasize that the chief goal of the Alliance is safety, furthered by cooperative research and development.