On Average, One Child a Month across Australia Dies in a Home Driveway Runover

The launch of the Kidsafe Driveway Safety Campaign by the Victorian Minister for Children the Hon Wendy Lovell at Fed Square was a major success generating statewide media coverage on television, radio and print media.

The Minister launched the Kidsafe driveway campaign, backed by the TAC Community Grants Program and Holden, at Federation Square at lunchtime today, with a graphic illustration of the lack of vision behind vehicles.

A fifteen metre Kidsafe bright yellow mat filled with small children graphically displayed the 15 metre dangerous blind spot for drivers

Cosmos and Melanie Barbera and their 18 month old daughter Sierra, who was run over in the home driveway last year and survived, joined the Minister to promote the driveway safety message by placing the first of 95,000 vehicle safety stickers to be distributed across the country, on the driver’s side window, to remind drivers to be aware of the dangers.

JOINING THE KIDSAFE  DRIVEWAY SAFETY CAMPAIGN

The City of  Whittlesea and the Shire of Yarra Valley have already joined in the campaign to distribute 5000 Kidsafe Driveway Stickers and promote the safety message to their residents.

Councils wanting to join the campaign  should contact the Kidsafe Office

Statistics from the Coroners Prevention Unit:

·         6 children killed in driveways in Victoria alone in the last 18 months

·         31% between 8:00-10:00AM

·         46% between 4:00- 6:00PM

·         In 85% of instances in Victoria, the driver was unaware that the child was near to the vehicle.

NATIONAL  KIDSAFE  AWARDS PRESENTED

1. Business Award (recognises retailers/business who actively promote road safety for children through action, increasing awareness or advocacy)- the winner of this award is the ‘Transportation of Children and Youth with Additional Needs’ partnership (members include RCH, Latrobe University, Britax, VicRoads, Association for Children with a Disability, RACV, ACRI, Autism Victoria).

2. Local Champion Award (recognises individuals/groups who have actively contributed to improved road safety for children in their local community)- the winner of this award is the City of Geelong’s Active Transport Network.

3. Kids Teaching Kids Award (recognises school students/local clubs/individual children
    who are less than 18 years of age and who have actively contributed to road safety for children) – the winner of this award is Wodonga South Primary School.