Driveway Safety for Children and Drivers

Driveways can be dangerous places for children and drivers. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports children under age four are the most likely to be killed in a back-up accident off-road. All of these accidents can be avoided.

While these children are only 6% of the American population, they represent more than 30% of this type fatality. The elderly, school-aged children and teens make up almost all of the statistics. Very few adults are killed in back-up, off road accidents.

The NHTSA calls these fatalities “non-occupant” since the child is not an occupant of the car. These “accidents” are off-road because they happen while drivers are backing out of driveways instead of on the street or highway.

Why are the statistics so high?
Since young children do not have physical stature (height), they cannot be seen easily from inside the car. This means drivers must exercise more caution when driving when children are present around the vehicle.

The child’s lack of comprehension places them in greater risk than older children and adults. Simply put, they do not understand the danger of a moving vehicle or the finality of death.

How to avoid these accidents
Watch the children.
Always know where the child is. Know each child’s location, especially when around motor vehicles: cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUV), off-road vehicles, motorcycles and recreational vehicles (RV), as well as lawn equipment (like mowers), tractors and agricultural equipment (like threshers).

It’s not a play toy.
Do not allow children to play in, on, under or around vehicles of any type. Children can become trapped under a vehicle. They can unknowingly put the vehicle into gear and hurt another child while playing inside. Falls from the top of a vehicle can be fatal for a child.

It's not a playground.
Avoid letting the driveway be a "playground". If children are allowed to play in the driveway, let them do it when no cars are present. Place a barricade at the end of the driveway. Separate the driveway from the street so the children will know that the street is not an acceptable place to play.

Get out and look.
Before backing out of the driveway, physically look around and under the car. Be sure to know the location of each child before starting the vehicle.

Look, listen and stop if needed.
Look behind the vehicle as you back slowly out of the driveway. Put the window down so that you can listen for children. Be prepared to stop immediately.

Turn it off and lock the door.
Children will want to emulate parents and adults. Turn the ignition off to keep children from moving the vehicle. Even when in the garage or driveway, keep the doors locked. This will keep the children from playing inside the vehicle.

Keeping children safe in the driveway is the number one way to avoid non-occupant, off-road fatalities. Take these simple steps to keep more children from being killed by cars. Teach the children in your life to take care around all vehicles.

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