Driveway Safety

Pulling in and out of the driveway is part of a typical routine that most people would not necessarily consider dangerous. However, children playing outside or children who escape the house without supervision are subject to the dangers of the driveway.

Driveway accidents are the cause of thousands of hospital visits and hundreds of deaths every year. Most families don’t think that this tragedy will happen to them; however it is the child’s parents or other family members who are behind the wheel for the majority of driveway incidents.

Driveway Back-Overs and Front-Overs Can Happen in a Matter of Seconds

The young victims of these cases are curious, quick, and unable to understand how dangerous the driveway can be. Whether they are playing in the driveway without an adult knowing, or running after an adult to say goodbye one last time, these incidents are more common in children under five than any other age group. Additionally, their small size leaves them invisible to drivers who are backing out of driveways. Backup systems such as rearview sensors and cameras are helpful to drivers backing out and are going to be mandatory in all new vehicles by 2018. While technology is extremely helpful in preventing these tragedies, it cannot be fully relied on to keep children safe.

To keep children safe, remember to:

Supervise your children at all times by watching them as they play outside and holding their hand when a vehicle is pulling in or out of the driveway.

Separate play areas from the driveway. Treating the driveway as a danger zone, the same way you would treat a busy road, can help children understand the risk of running into the driveway. Also, physically separating play from the driveway through the use of safety nets or fences is helpful in eliminating danger.

See your driving path by knowing your vehicle’s blind zone. Walk completely around your vehicle to make sure no children are behind it. Backup systems can also be installed to increase visibility in drivers.

With the helpful information and safety tips found here and through other links on this webpage, you can keep your children safe and avoid this tragedy! 

Keep your kids safe in the driveway with these helpful tips

Did You Know?

• Approximately fifty children each week are injured after being struck or run over by a car that is backing out from a driveway. Of these, around 2 will die each week. (Source: Keep Your Child Safe)
• Driveway accidents most commonly occur in children ranging from twelve to twenty-three months of age. (Source: Kids and Cars)
• In seventy percent of backing up incidents, a parent or close relative is behind the wheel. (Source: Kids and Cars)
• SUVs and trucks are involved in more back-over incidents than smaller sized cars because of the large blind zones behind these vehicles. (Source: Safe Kids) 

Learn more about driveway safety

Stay Safe in the Driveway With These Videos

	Road Safety Authority of Ireland discusses educational strategies that parents can take to teach their children about driveway safety, and also gives safety tips for parents before they enter and exit the driveway.
	Crossing the Street is a song by PlayKids for children to learn how to cross the street safely.
	The Rhode Show team discusses the use of back up cameras and how they can help prevent back over tragedies.
	This PSA by Kids and Cars USA highlights that 62 children could be behind a vehicle and not one of them could be seen by the driver.
	Lewis First, MD, gives parents some helpful backing up safety tips.
	Orcas Inc. give tips for making playtime a safe time when you are near the driveway safely.
	The North Carolina Department of Transportation shows children and adults how to safely behave in parking lots.
	Safecar.gov introduces backup cameras and explains how driving can be safer with them.
	Collision Guard illustrates the dangers of driveways and the ‘bye-bye syndrome.’