The Hidden Dangers of ‘Frontover Crashes’
Every week in the United States, about 60 children are struck by slow-moving vehicles in driveways and parking lots, with approximately two fatalities resulting from these incidents. These tragic events, known as ‘frontover crashes,’ often involve larger vehicles such as trucks, vans, and SUVs, where significant blind zones can obscure a driver’s view of a child in front of the vehicle.
Understanding Frontover Crashes
“With the bigger, boxier vehicles that we’re driving today, we have bigger blind zones,” explains Amber Rollins, director of the Kids and Car Safety organization. This nonprofit group has been collecting data on frontover crashes for 30 years, revealing alarming statistics: 75% of frontover incidents involve larger vehicles, 61% of known drivers involved in these crashes knew the child they hit, and 93% of victims are children aged six or under.
In Florida alone, there have been 80 documented frontover deaths among children over the past 30 years. However, Rollins emphasizes that this number is likely a significant undercount since it only includes incidents occurring on private property, not public roads.
Prevention Strategies
To combat these heartbreaking accidents, experts recommend several safety measures:
- Install camera systems: Enhance your vehicle’s visibility with aftermarket camera systems available online or through local auto shops.
- Direct supervision: Always keep a watchful eye on children, especially when they’re near vehicles or riding bicycles. Try to accompany them when they’re cycling near driveways or parking areas.
- Child safety measures: Implement child-locks on doors and consider stick-on alarms that alert you if a door opens.
The Kids and Car Safety organization is also advocating for federal regulations requiring passenger vehicles to be equipped with automatic emergency braking and 360-degree camera systems.
By understanding the risks associated with frontover crashes and implementing these safety strategies, we can work towards reducing the number of children affected by these preventable tragedies.
