Every week in the United States, at least 50 children are backed over because a driver could not see them. The state of Texas ranks the second highest state with the most backover fatalities in the U.S. KidsAndCars.org has documented at least 146 child backover fatalities in Texas from 1997 to 2015. Already this year, at least four children have died in backover tragedies in Texas.
Rearview cameras can be installed on any vehicle to end these predictable tragedies. Backovers are not only predictable, they are also 100 percent preventable!
Blindzones: Every Vehicle Has Them
A blindzone is the area behind a vehicle where the driver cannot see even when looking back and using their rear and side view mirrors correctly. Blindzone facts:
• The average blindzone is 15 to 25 feet.
• Shorter drivers have larger blindzones.
• Over 60 percent of backovers involve a larger vehicle such as a truck, van or SUV.
Circumstances
• Backovers take place mainly in driveways and parking lots.
• In over 70 percent of these incidents, a parent or close relative is the driver behind the wheel.
• Bye-Bye Syndrome™: Children don’t want to be left behind when they hear the words “bye-bye.” Many times, children follow behind the person who is leaving. The driver is unaware the child sneaked out, thinking they are still safe inside. The child stands behind the vehicle where they cannot be seen and is backed over.
Contributing Factors
• Most drivers are unaware of the very large, dangerous blindzone that is found behind all vehicles.
• Children do not understand the danger of a slow moving vehicle. They believe if they see the vehicle, the driver can see them.
• Children do not recognize boundaries such as property lines, sidewalks, driveways or parking spaces.
Age
• The predominant age of backover victims is one-year-old. Toddlers have just started walking and running at this age, testing the limits and trying new things.
• Children younger than five-years-old are at the most risk, but children of all ages can be backed over.
Statistics
• On average, 232 fatalities and 13,000 injuries occur every year due to backovers.
• Thousands of children are seriously injured or killed every year because a driver backing up was not able to see them behind their vehicle. Many elderly people are also backed over by vehicles.