Avoiding driveway deaths

Driveway incidents with toddlers and small children resulting in injury or death is still a big issue in many western countries. Recently the Child Safety Foundation of New Zealand has released information about what can be done to reduce the death and injury toll. Here's a summary of the information:

1) Simple, straightforward procedures are more effective than expensive equipment (such as driveway / vehicle cameras)
"Installing reversing cameras on a vehicle can certainly be a positive move. However, at an estimated cost of between $300 and $950, cameras will be beyond the financial reach of many families. Moreover, as fixed devices, they have only a limited ability to monitor the swift movements of children at play."

2) Always check before you get into your car and start reversing that there are no children around and likely to be in your path. This rule applies to people visiting a home with children, as well as to the parents themselves.

3) As parents ensure that children, especially young children are supervised when playing anywhere near the driveway. Hold onto your child when saying good bye to visitors.

4) Separate play areas from your driveway. Ideally, that means fencing the driveway off. Even if fencing-off is not possible, you need to make sure that your children never, ever use the driveway as playground.

The Child Safety Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to minimise preventable accidents occurring to New Zealand's children. Check out www.childsafety.co.nz for more information

-Stefan