"Backover Accidents" and Children

What is a Backover Accident? 
A backover accident occurs when a vehicle is backing out of a driveway or parking space and hits a child because the driver did not see the child.  Backover accidents generally involve toddlers, or small children that do not understand the risks of being behind or near a moving vehicle and then subsequently wander unnoticed into the pathway of the backing vehicle.

The Problem:  
Thousands of children are killed or seriously injured in backover accidents that could easily have been prevented.
 
Statistics:  
Each week 50 children in the United States are injured after being backed over by a vehicle.  This danger accounts for almost 50% of all non-traffic fatalities involving children younger than 15-years-old. 

Car and Truck "Backover" Prevention Tips for Parents:
• At an early age, teach your children not to play in or around vehicles
• Provide proper supervision of children when they are in and around vehicles
• Always remember to inspect the areas around and under your vehicle before backing up
• Use extreme caution if you are in an area (schools, neighborhoods, playgrounds) where small children are   commonly found 
• Teach your children to move away from a vehicle when it is started
• If children are in your immediate area, ask them to stand to the side where you can see them as you back out
• Constantly check and re-check while backing out slowly
• Use added caution if you are driving a larger vehicle such as an SUV or van (bigger vehicles = bigger blind spots) 
• Teach your children not to leave their toys, bikes, or other items in driveways
• Kids move quickly and unexpectedly; keep checking your mirrors until you are done backing
• Even if a vehicle is equipped with detection devices like backup cameras or warning sounds, do not let them take the place of active watching and listening while backing up

What else?
• Every vehicle has blind spots--be aware of what you cannot see
• Many components of a vehicle, such as the driver’s seat, or the view through the windows and mirrors, can affect what is visible to the driver 
• SUV’s and larger vehicles are more likely to be involved in backup accidents
• Backup accidents often occur when an adult is unknowingly followed by a child to the area where the adult will soon be backing up their car or truck.  ALWAYS be aware of children who may be close by when you start your vehicle!