Children being left alone in cars is becoming more common as 5,000 children are rescued from locked cars each year.

The reason for this increase may because of a condition coined ‘fatal distraction’.

Press PLAY to find out how ‘fatal distraction’ might be causing parents to leave their children in the car

Kids Safe WA chief executive Scott Phillips told Julie-Anne Sprague on 6PR Afternoons, parents and guardians are leaving their children by accident.

“People are getting busier and busier and not really able to switch off,” Mr Phillips said.

“It means that there are a lot of us doing it by accident.”