Road safety experts are desperately trying to raise awareness about a “shocking” and deadly trend taking place near our own homes, which sees a child injured every week — a statistic they say “unfortunately, many Australians are not aware of”.
Seven kids are killed each year in Australia from being hit by reversing cars in driveways, with on average a child a week becoming injured the same way. It’s an issue prompting those working with victims to speak out, urging drivers to be aware of the dangers ahead of these Christmas holidays.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Sarah Elseidy, senior associate in work and roads at Slater and Gordon said the reality is “quite shocking” but it serves as an “important reminder that we really do need to look everywhere” when it comes to driving.
The holiday season is one of the busiest travel times in Australia, with roads packed as people head off to visit family, take vacations, and explore new destinations. During the Christmas holidays, a significant number of Australians embark on driving trips. A 2024 survey also indicated that 91.9 per cent of respondents had taken a road trip this year — an increase from 88.4 per cent in 2022.
Authorities say this Christmas, it’s more important than ever to be aware of your surroundings when getting behind the wheel. Source: Reddit
Elseidy said prior to hitting the road, taking a few extra minutes to “check everywhere” might save a life.
“Take a few minutes to check behind you,” she warned. “Often you may be busy packing the car and a young child may have gotten out of their seat to see what you’re doing, and in the rush of trying to pack and leave on time you don’t think to check because you believe they’re still in their seat.
“All vehicles have a large blind spot — some extending back as far as 15 metres — which can make it difficult for the driver to see a child. Even with reversing sensors or cameras, a child may not be noticed until it is too late.”
Elseidy warned that “nobody wants to have this preventable tragedy happen to them”, and with increased traffic on the roads over this busy period we “all need to have [these statistics] in front of mind.”
Driveway accidents involving children are a significant concern in Australia, with worrying figures highlighting the severity of the issue. On average, seven children aged 0-14 years are killed, and 60 are seriously injured annually due to driveway run-over incidents, according to Kidsafe.
The majority of these incidents involve very young children, with 90 per cent of fatalities and 70 per cent of serious injuries occurring in children under five years of age.
The vehicles involved are often moving slowly, and the driver is typically a parent, family member, or friend. While many incidents occur in driveways, a significant number also happen on roads, with 50 per cent of child pedestrian fatalities occurring on roads and 32.4 per cent in driveways.
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