Thinking of car accidents often brings to mind head-on collisions or cars veering off the highway into the guardrails. We don’t tend to focus on accidents in our own driveways. Unfortunately, it is not that uncommon for children to get hit or run over by a car while innocently playing within arm’s reach of their front doors. Some of these young victims are seriously, often permanently, injured. Others die. Fortunately, though, incidents like these can be prevented.
Parents and childcare providers should discourage children from playing in driveways. Of course, for some children, the driveway is the only place where they can ride their bicycles, shoot baskets, or play hopscotch. If this is the case, then adults need to provide supervision and protect the children by following a few guidelines. First, limit the children’s access to the driveway so that they cannot play there unsupervised. Lock any doors in your home that lead directly to the driveway and/or put a fence around the driveway.
Also, teach children the safety rules. They should know that it’s never appropriate to play in, under, or around parked vehicles. Children should also be instructed to not enter the street unless they are with a grownup. A mesh barrier (resembling a tennis court net) can be placed at the end of the driveway as a visual reminder to children not to leave the driveway. It also prevents cars from entering the driveway and keeps balls or other toys from rolling into the street.
Adults should take children by their hands when a car is approaching. Don’t take chances. A child may suddenly dart out in front of a moving vehicle, not realizing how fast it is going or how close it is. Before getting in your vehicle, always look under it. A child may be hiding or reaching underneath it to retrieve a toy. Be aware of your vehicle’s blind spots. When sitting in the driver’s seat, you cannot possibly see every inch of space around your vehicle. Further, do not rely on backup sensors or videos; these are aids only. Unfortunately, by the time an alarm sounds or a child is seen in the video, it may be too late to stop your vehicle.
Any time you move your vehicle, you need to know where the children are and make sure they are being supervised at a safe distance away. Don’t assume that driving slowly will protect them or that they will step aside as you approach. Remember: children don’t have the same judgment as adults. If you must move your vehicle when there is no one else available to supervise the children, put them in the vehicle with you.
When returning from a trip or after running errands, keep the children in the car until after you have removed your baggage, groceries, or packages. This way, the children won’t be without supervision in the driveway. Another safety measure is to remove visual obstructions from around the driveway that prevent approaching drivers from seeing the children. For example, trim overgrown bushes and don’t keep garbage cans along the side of the driveway. Some of these guidelines may seem time-consuming and bothersome; however, a few minutes of inconvenience is a small price to pay to prevent a tragic accident.
