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careful steps for reversing
Understand how the features in your car and at home can protect your family and others. Talk to an insurance agent to get additional information and tips on auto and home insurance.
Backover accidents at home are preventable tragedies. Each year, thousands of children are killed or seriously injured by a driver backing up that didn’t see them; that’s roughly 50 children each week in the U.S. alone. Sadly, backovers occur primarily in driveways and parking lots, with over 70% of incidents involving a parent or close relative behind the wheel.
This article will review some prevention strategies for backover accidents and offer tips on the latest tools and technologies that may help mitigate child backover tragedies.
There are several reasons that backover accidents happen with children (the elderly and pets) being most at risk. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that children under five years old account for 31% of backover fatalities each year.
Most modern vehicles come equipped with backup cameras, which have contributed to a 78% decline in backover accidents. This is due in part to the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, enacted in 2008, which introduced more rigorous rear visibility standards for cars.
Still, for the many ways backup cameras are helpful, they’re not foolproof; driver inattention, poor camera quality, bad weather, lighting issues and inherent blind spots near the rear bumper are all reasons for the continued need for driver diligence.
A layered approach can be effective for avoiding a backover accident; be sure to take the following steps:
A chart compiled by Consumer Reports provides measurements to help drivers understand how large some vehicle’s blind zones are. The report measured the blind zones of popular car models, using both an average-height driver (5’8) and shorter driver (5’1).
To measure the blind zones, a 28-inch traffic cone was placed behind the test vehicle at the point where the driver could only see the top. The result? The largest vehicles pose the greatest backover risks:
Car type | Average driver | Short driver |
Small sedans | 12 ft. | 24 ft. |
Midsized sedans | 13 | 22 |
Large sedans | 13 | 23 |
Wagons/hatchbacks | 9 | 15 |
Small SUVs | 13 | 22 |
Midsized SUVs | 18 | 28 |
Large SUVs | 19 | 31 |
Minivans | 15 | 26 |
Pickups | 24 | 35 |
Sporty cars | 13 | 21 |
For those with vehicles that don’t have backup cameras (or even those with them), aftermarket gear is available and can be added relatively easily to any vehicle to warn of objects behind the vehicle.
Some of the more popular accessories consumers add to their cars each year to help prevent car reversing accidents include:
Backover accidents involving children are a tough thing to think about, but are almost always preventable when vigilance and newer safety technologies combine. For parents, the number one thing you can do to help your child from becoming the victim of a reversing car accident is to know where your child is at all times and to assign someone to care for your child when you leave in your car. But for all drivers, we should think about and practice the safety tips listed above every time we put our cars in reverse.
careful steps for reversing
Understand how the features in your car and at home can protect your family and others. Talk to an insurance agent to get additional information and tips on auto and home insurance.
This information is being provided for general informational purposes only. The Auto Club Group does not assume any liability in connection with providing this information.
A backover accident happens when a driver reverses over someone they didn't see. Children, especially those under five, are at the highest risk because of their small size, making them difficult to spot in a vehicle's blind spots. They also may not understand the dangers of a moving car in a driveway or parking lot.
A layered safety approach is most effective. Before getting into your car, do a full walk-around to check for children, pets and objects. Once inside, roll down your windows, lower the radio volume and back up slowly. Most importantly, always know where your children are and ensure they are supervised when you need to move your vehicle.
While backup cameras have significantly reduced backover incidents, they are not foolproof. Glare, bad weather or a dirty lens can obstruct the view. Also, cameras have their own blind spots, particularly right near the bumper. They should be used as an aid, not a replacement for physically checking your surroundings.
If your vehicle doesn't have built-in safety features, you can easily add aftermarket solutions.
Start teaching safety habits early. Explain that driveways and parking lots are not play areas. Teach them to keep toys and bikes away from where cars are parked or driven. Create a designated "safe spot," like on the porch or a specific patch of grass, where they must stand whenever a car is running or moving.
