With families across the state preparing for a return to school after the summer holiday break, Kidsafe Victoria is urging all road users to take extra care in a bid to reduce the risk of childhood injury.
The home driveway, a place where many school day family journeys begin and end, is an area where Kidsafe Victoria says particular care is needed.
Every year an average of 7 children aged 0-14 years are killed and 60 are seriously injured due to driveway run over incidents in Australia.
Kidsafe Victoria General Manager, Jason Chambers, highlighted the dangers that driveways can pose for children.
“Children are unpredictable. They are naturally inquisitive, as well as being surprisingly quick and mobile. This, combined with the large blind spot that exists behind all vehicles, can make it difficult to see a child behind a reversing vehicle”, said Mr Chambers.
“Even if a car has parking sensors or a reversing camera fitted, children may not be noticed until it is too late to stop.”
Kidsafe Victoria has also highlighted the dangers for child pedestrians around car parks and roads, particularly during the busy back to school period.
“Roads are designed with adults in mind, however children aren’t ‘little adults’. They don’t have as much traffic experience or knowledge and are physically and cognitively less developed than adults, which places them at greater risk of injury”, said Mr Chambers.
“During school hours there will be lots of excited children around roads, car parks and driveways, especially during the often chaotic pick-up and drop-off times, which is why it is important that all road users take care.”
Kidsafe Victoria has released a set of tips to help keep children safe on and around roads for a safe start to the school year.
Treat the driveway like a road and always Supervise, Separate and See:
For more information on driveway and road safety, please visit the Kidsafe Victoria website.
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