Picture this familiar rush of the morning: “Mom, I can’t find my other shoe!” “Dad, did you sign my note?” “Sally’s hogging the bathroom!” “I don’t want to get up!” Sometimes you don’t know where one child begins, and you end. You’re grabbing your keys, someone’s math book, your phone, holding back the dog as you open the front door, then you’re locking the door, jumping into the car, yes you have your keys, you check the back of your vehicle and your rambunctious kids seem to all be present, you check your blind spots and reverse. But it’s on the mornings like these where the worst kind of accidents can happen.
Back over, accidents occur more frequently than one would think. According to kidsandcars.org, at least 50 children a week are injured or killed by a car running them over while in reverse. These accidents happen most often at home, by a family member, with children most at risk due to their small size. When they stand behind the car, children are right in your blind spot. Even with the advent of the backup camera, these accidents still happen as the camera image is not always reliable, depending on the lighting. Fewer drivers are checking their blind spots, usually waiting for that crisp, annoying beeping from the collision detector signaling an object, but as many people know, the detector beeps at everything from curbs to cars and cannot solely be relied upon.
When we become too dependent on technology that is helpful, but flawed, we put everyone around us at risk. With school starting and bringing the hustle and bustle back to mornings, here are five recommendations to avoid backover accidents:
This school year, let’s try to decrease the number of backover accidents and increase our awareness around cars. If you ever have questions or concerns regarding an accident, do not hesitate to contact Curcio Law.