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Current mood:  animated Category: Life
The most tragic accidents for young children occur at home. Accidents usually occur because of carelessness, distraction, being rushed and not being aware. Most can be avoided. Even though you have taken steps to child proof your home here are two locations of your home that you may not have thought about and they can be deadly. They are the garage, and the driveway. I recently read an article of a family’s tragic accident involving a young driver, who as he backed the car out of the driveway of his home, inadvertently drove over and killed his five year old sister. For that reason we are going to discuss driveway and street safety for children. The accident may have occurred because he was an inexperienced driver but age and inexperience are not always factors in this type of accident. The number one reason for this type of accident in my opinion is that the driver was in a rush, and didn’t look back before backing up, or did so in a quick distracted manner. Here are some important life-saving tips for vehicle safety while backing up. Whether you are at home, in a neighbor’s home, the grocery store, the church parking lot, or on a local street the very first thing is to become aware. If you were distracted, get focused. If you have a young child in the car seat in the back, it’s time to turn your focus from him to the driveway, and street, or area directly behind your car. If you’re on the phone hang it up or use a hand-free devise. Before you enter a car, if possible it’s a good idea to take an extra moment and physically walk around your car to make sure it’s clear. Check for bikes, children’s toys, scooters, balls, and objects with which your child may have just been playing. Children and teens are known to follow toys, balls, and bikes. As soon as you enter a vehicle with the intention of backing up, and before you take it out of park, look back again, use the rear view, and side view mirrors, keep viewing all around you. Know where any young children are. Children run out impulsively. A situation can change in a moment so be alert. It’s helpful to unroll the windows so that you may hear a child or pet if they approach a vehicle. Start slowly and maintain your foot on the brake. As you are turning your front wheel take another look to make sure that it is clear. If you exit the car for any moment, put the vehicle in park once again, to secure it. This is how people can get rolled over by their own vehicle. It may sound funny but it happens too often to be amusing for long. When you are backing out, proceed slowly, and anticipate adapting at a moment’s notice. Don’t assume that just because you checked once that the situation will still remain unchanged. Remember, a child or teen is impulsive. They don’t see the immediate danger of a moving vehicle, and if they are playing, their focus is not going to be on you. Besides teens and children, be aware of adults walking behind or near your vehicle. How about this for an innocent scenario; a family member approaches your vehicle at the last moment. He appears out of nowhere to knock on your window. It’s possible while you are backing up, you could still run over a foot, or catch him off balance and he goes down with a hit from the side view mirror. In a grocery store parking lot, or on the street, pedestrians can be distracted, not always looking out for backing vehicles and believe it or not, they think they are faster than a vehicle, and that they are so obvious to you that you are going to stop. Prevent these tragedies. Look, listen, and stop immediately if you hear children’s voices or cries, a bump, or unexpected noise. Put the car in park and put on the emergency brake. Take time to teach children about the driveway and street. Make it clear to them that playing in the driveway or behind or under the car is not okay. Insist that children not go on the driveway while you are in the car. Also explain to any child or teen that you expect them not to play in the street, not to throw anything at vehicles, not to rush in front of cars on their bikes, or try to run across the street seconds before cars. A healthy respect for cars is very important. Children follow by your example. A final point; don’t underestimate a child’s ability to figure out complex challenges. If he or she has seen you or your partner start a car, if given a chance, he or she will figure out how to start the car, and shift the gear. To a child or preteen a vehicle means big adventure. They really are not aware of the dangers of a car, unless you take the time to stress the very real dangers. You prevent backing up accidents in driveways, the street or grocery parking lot with awareness and caution. Don’t be in a rush. As with everything else that you engage in, awareness is a key factor. You need to be more aware than any child or any adult, because you are seated in a moving vehicle.
1:56 PM
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