Most victims of backovers are children and the elderly. To add to the tragedy of backover injuries and deaths, the driver is often a relative, neighbor - or even the parent of the victim.
Since most of these heartbreaking incidents occur in private driveways rather than on the road, they are not typically included in traffic-crash fatality data. Therefore, experts often don't agree on the exact number of persons injured or killed in backover incidents each year.
Even one person dying in a backover incident is one too many! Awareness of the problem is the first step toward reducing the risk.
All Vehicles Have Blind Spots
In the case of a backover incident, the blind spot is the place behind your vehicle that you cannot see in the rear or side view mirror or even by craning your neck out the driver's side window. Generally speaking, the larger the vehicle, the larger the blind spot. Blind spots for shorter drivers tend to be significantly larger as well. In addition, the elevation of the driver's seat, the shape of a vehicle's windows and mirrors, and the slope of a driveway can affect the size of the blind spot behind your vehicle.
Technologies and Backover
At this time, no technology on the market is considered by experts to be foolproof in preventing backover incidents. Even if an accurate preventive technology is developed, it's important to remember that no technology alone can protect your children. Keeping pedestrians safe from a backover tragedy requires education, supervision and vigilance. Los Angeles Firefighters recommend the following tips to help drivers reduce the risk.
Safety Tips for Motorists:
- At home and away, seek to park your vehicle where the need to drive in reverse is minimized.
- Check your vehicle reverse lamps and brake lights periodically by having a responsible adult observer stand safely toward the rear but alongside (not directly behind!) your vehicle.
- Whenever backing is required, use a responsible adult observer in the identical location to safely guide you.
- Ensure children and pets are properly supervised at all times, especially where motor vehicles might be present.
- Teach children never to play in, under or around vehicles.
- Always assume children or diminutive adults could be present and carefully check the street and driveway as you approach your vehicle. The LAFD always recommends a complete 'circle check' before you get behind the wheel.
- Avoid making your driveway a playground. If you do allow children in this area, make sure that it's only when there are no vehicles present. To further protect children who may be playing outside, separate the driveway from the roadway with some type of physical barrier to prevent any cars from entering.
- To prevent curious children from putting a vehicle in gear, never leave the motor running or keys within the vehicle. Keep every vehicle, even those in your driveway and garage, locked up tight.
- When backing up, always know where all children are and have them stay together in your full view and well away from your planned path of travel. Don't even think of backing until your radio or entertainment system is turned completely off, and your wireless phone is put away.
- Look behind you as you back out S-L-O-W-L-Y with your windows rolled down to listen for those who may have dashed behind your vehicle suddenly - and be prepared to stop!
- If you're driving an SUV, truck or van, remember that the blind spot behind your vehicle can be especially large: Use extreme care whenever you back up.
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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
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