A vehicle safety system is for preventing child abandonment in a vehicle. The vehicle safety system may include a flow sensor for fuel in the vehicle, and a controller coupled to the flow sensor and a seat sensor. The controller may be configured to detect when the vehicle is in a fueling state based upon the flow sensor, and detect occupancy of a child safety seat based upon the seat sensor. The controller may be configured to if the vehicle does not enter the fueling state within a first time period, then cause the vehicle to enter a first alert state, and if the vehicle does not enter the fueling state within a second time period greater than the first time period, then cause the vehicle to enter a second alert state.