A backover accident is one of the most catastrophic accidents that can occur in a driveway or parking lot. Statistics show that every week, at least fifty children are backed over by cars or larger vehicles. Tragically, in two-thirds of these accidents, a parent or close family member is behind the wheel, and the child is not visible because of the car’s blind spots.
A blind spot is any area around a vehicle that the driver cannot see, either directly or using side or rearview mirrors. Every vehicle has blind spots, with the largest one being located at the back of the car. Small children are particularly vulnerable when they are playing or walking in a blind spot behind a parked car because the driver can’t see them.
Children who are between the ages of 1 and 5 don’t like to be separated from their parents and often chase after them. When they hear mom and dad say “bye-bye,” some children will try to follow their parents. The parents, thinking their child is safe indoors, may not realize that their child is behind the car. They tragically end up backing over the child because they can’t see them in the blind spots.
Tips to avoid a backover accident
Here are some tips to help you avoid a backover tragedy.
- Before you get into the vehicle, check all around it and under it to make sure your child is not there.
- Use your rearview and side mirrors, as well as your backup camera.
- Listen for your child. Keep the radio off until you are safely on the road.
You also need to take great of your kids around parking lots and other such areas as other drivers may not be so vigilant. They may be stressed or distracted or simply not thinking about the prospect that there might be a child behind their vehicle, and they may fail to perform adequate checks before reversing out.
If tragedy strikes, you will need to speak with someone who knows how to help you through the aftermath.