With the school summer holidays just around the corner, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is re-issuing advice to help keep young children safe on driveways and in and around cars.
RoSPA research shows that at least 26 children have been killed on, or near, the driveway of their homes since 2001. Seventeen of these accidents have occurred since 2007 and, tragically, in most cases, an adult member of the child's family, a neighbour or a visitor was driving the vehicle. These cases are devastating for all those involved.
Fifteen of the deaths occurred when a child was hit by a reversing vehicle and three when the vehicle rolled back after the handbrake was accidentally released.
RoSPA has produced advice on reversing, parking and other car safety issues as part of its Child on the Drive! campaign, which launched late last year. The accident prevention charity worked closely with the Goodwill and Patterson families, who both lost young sons in driveway accidents, on resources aimed at families, carers and those whose work sees them driving to other people's homes.
Lindsey Brough, RoSPA's road safety research and evaluation officer, said: "With good weather finally here, young children will be grasping the opportunity to play outside and are more likely to be travelling by car to and from organised activities.
"Drivers have a limited view when reversing, and as the statistics sadly show, it's too easy for a small child to slip into a vehicle's blind zone. When children are about it's best to walk around your car to physically check where they are before manoeuvring, or at least to have another adult guide you as you slowly reverse. Remember that you can't see everything through your mirrors.
"Be safety and security conscious: always lock your car when parked. Never leave young children alone inside a vehicle."
