Back Overs
Every year, thousands of children are killed or seriously injured because a driver backing up didn't see them. A backover incident typically takes place when a car is backing out of a driveway or parking space.
Stories
Backover tragedies change the lives of parents, families, and communities forever. Below are stories of just a few children whose lives were lost because they could not be seen in the blindzone behind a vehicle.
"Near Misses" Stories
Below are stories of just a few children who survived being backed over because they could not be seen in the blindzone behind a vehicle.
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Fact Sheet
In the U.S. at least fifty children are being backed over by vehicles EVERY week. Forty-eight (48) are treated in hospital emergency rooms and at least two (2) children are fatality injured every WEEK.
• The predominant age of victims is one year olds. (12‐23 months)
• Over 60% of backing up incidents involved a larger size vehicle. (truck, van, SUV)
• Tragically, in over 70% of these incidents, a parent or close relative is behind the wheel.
Fact Sheet for Backovers
Why we call the areas around a vehicle a blindzone and NOT a 'blind spot."
Learn what the BlindZone measurement is for your vehicle:
Consumer Reports has measured the blindzones of a number of popular vehicle models. The results for both an average-height driver (5 feet 8 inches) and a shorter driver (5 feet 1 inch) are listed in the accompanying charts.
click here for BlindZone information
Chart, Statistics, Graphics
KidsAndCars.org makes available charts and graphs to be downloaded for free and are excellent education materials. We encourage you to share, print, copy, distribute, or enlarge them; but we ask that no changes be made.
Safety Tips
Learn simple tips on how to keep your children safe in and around vehicles.
Click here for the Fact Sheet
Public Service Announcements
Heighten awareness about the dangers children face in and around motor vehicles with KidsAndCars.org's Public Service Announcements. Please encourage TV stations, hospital, doctor offices, public health offices, parenting classes, etc., to share this life-saving information.
News
Bay Area accidents highlight importance of children's safety around vehicles
January 01, 2012
It's hard to fathom how a young child can be accidentally killed outside his home by a loved one, but such tragedies happen more often than people might think.
Read More
Group says backover deaths frequent among children
December 31, 2011
While Shreveport police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Thursday's death of 5-year-old Mackenzie Beightol in the 600 block of Robinson Place, one national organization points out the situation is more common than most people realize.
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Save your children from accidentally being backed over by a vehicle
November 02, 2011
After visiting KidsandCars.org and seeing the countless, heartbreaking stories of kids being backed over I knew I needed to do something to protect my own kids and the kids of others.
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Backing up for many drivers is like driving blind
November 02, 2011
Our overall goal is really for the automakers to think about children when they're designing these vehicles, said Janette Fennell of Kids and Cars.
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Reduce the danger of vehicle back-overs
October 27, 2011
Unfortunately, accidents like the one in Chattanooga happen too often. In the United States, at least 50 children are backed over by vehicles every week - 48 of whom are treated in hospital emergency rooms - and at least two children are fatally injured, according to KidsAndCars.org, a national nonprofit child safety organization dedicated to preventing injuries and death to children in or around motor vehicles.
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KidsAndCars.org - Preventing Backover Accidents
October 12, 2011
There's an old saying that some things can't be helped, but thankfully, backover accidents aren't one of them. Backover tragedies happen far too often, claiming the lives of at least two children in the U.S. every week (source: KidsAndCars.org). Yet, they can be minimized by heightened awareness and safe driving practices.
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30 Under 30 San Diego County Leader No. 6: Patrick Ivison
October 06, 2011
The only difference between this teenager and others is that Patrick Ivison needs a wheelchair - and that's it, or so he says. But to others, Ivison's determination and ability to inspire others at an early age is what sets him apart. Ivison, who says he is inspired by his mother, said his biggest accomplishment is advocating for a federal law.
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Kids and Cars Founder Praises FOX 9 Report
September 29, 2011
After the FOX 9 Investigators aired the " Backing Up Blind " segment, which focuses on the limited visibilty driver's have when backing up and what can be done, the founder and president of KidsAndCars.org praised FOX 9 for its coverage.
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Investigators: Backing Up Blind
September 28, 2011
Colton's grandmother, Kim Emmert, died pushing him in a stroller at the end of July. They were passing a neighbor's driveway when a driver in an SUV started to back up and didn't stop until he hit Emmert. The 49-year old grandmother managed to push the stroller, with Colton inside, out of the way before being run-over herself.
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Four Keys to Keeping Kids Safe in Cars
August 18, 2011
Janette Fennell, president of Kids and Cars, says that 70 percent of the time, loved ones are responsible for non-traffic incidents like rollovers and heat stroke, and most of these accidents happen at home. We give Four Keys to Keeping Kids Safe in Cars to ensure the smallest members of your family are well-protected both on and off the road.
Read MoreTechnology
Technology is available to reduce the blindzone behind your vehicle. Learn more about what is available today as after market technology you can add to your vehicle today. All vehicles can be retrofitted with rearview video camera systems and/or sensors.
Audiovox - provides smart, dependable and affordable Rear Collision Avoidance solutions to keep families safe in the driveway and on the road.
Backup4Safety - Backup4safety.com is in the business of providing a safe environment for our children by making premium rearview backup safety systems accessible to everyone through direct sales, charitable donation, fundraising and “Pay It Forward” good will programs.
Gentex - automatically shows a driver the view of what is directly behind the vehicle when it is put in “reverse” so that the rear blind zone is visible.
Echomaster - the premier manufacturer of reverse sensing devices, is dedicated to preventing reversing accidents. Safety is our number one concern.
Ackton - a world leader in the manufacturing of parking sensors for the automotive, commercial, and R.V. markets.
Vehicle Reversing System - makes available the Worlds Only patented "Talking" Reversing Alert System.
Rostra - recently introduced BabyCam, a system with allows safe and easy monitoring of children in their car seats without taking driver focus from the road.
ScopeOut - a patented system of aerodynamic mirrors that are strategically placed on the vehicle to provide a panoramic rear view of vehicles or persons approaching on the street or down the sidewalk.
VisorView - The rear view camera system VISOR-VIEW is compatible with virtually any vehicle. Drivers now have an affordable way to view hidden object
Studies
Below are studies specific to backover injuries and deaths. There have been several studies published about backovers but there is still much to be learned.
Not-in-traffic surveillance 2007 - children.Traffic safety facts.Washington DC:
Pediatric driveway runover injuries: Time to redesign?
Light Vehicle Rear Visibility Assessment
NAPNAP position statement on the prevention of unintentional injuries in children