Keep Children Safe
Tips to Keep Children Safe Around Cars and Parking Lots from The Sam Bernstein Law Firm
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 44 percent of fatalities involving back-over incidents include children under five. The NHTSA also estimates that an average 292 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur each year as a result of back-over incidents involving all vehicles.
While in the driveway and in public places, parents can prevent a pedestrian accident and keep their children safe by following a few safety tips:
- Check that play areas and gates are latched and closed whenever children are outside.
- Do not allow children to play near or behind parked cars, even if empty.
- Teach children safe street crossing guidelines, by crossing only at crosswalks, not in the middle of the street. Look both ways, and always hold the hand of an adult. Use the same rules for parking lots.
- Walk around and behind a car before driving away. Do not give your children a reason to run behind the car - remove toys and sports equipment off the driveway.
- Know where your kids are before you leave, and if possible, have another adult properly supervising them while you drive away.
- Be careful when dropping off children at school or other busy parking lots. Watch to ensure they arrive at the sidewalk or building safely.
- Remember that the blind zone in an SUV or pickup can be especially large. Use extreme care.
In an attempt to reduce incidents by policy, the U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed a new safety regulation to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles that can hide pedestrians, especially toddlers and young children.
The proposal requires a standard larger field of view, which may influence automobile manufacturers to install rear mounted video cameras and in-vehicle displays. At least 10 percent of new vehicles produced must meet the new standards by September 2012.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a Michigan pedestrian accident, talk with an experienced Michigan pedestrian accident lawyer to determine your rights.