Frontovers
Every year, thousands of children are hurt or killed because a driver moving forward very slowly didn’t see them. These incidents for the most part take place in driveways or parking lots and are referred to as ‘frontovers’ (the opposite of a backover). A federal bill has been introduced calling for technology in all vehicles that can prevent frontover tragedies.
Must see news reports on frontovers:
Child Stories
Stories about kids and cars have a tendency to end badly. The children at the links below either lost, or nearly lost their lives because they could not be seen by the driver in the blindzone in front of a vehicle that was moving forward very slowly.
Tragedies
Near Misses
Fact Sheet and Safety Tips
KidsAndCars.org urges all drivers to heighten their awareness before moving a vehicle; especially when children are present. Children are impulsive and unpredictable; still have very poor judgment, and little understanding of danger. They do not recognize boundaries such as property lines, sidewalks, driveways or parking spaces. Toddlers have just ‘gotten their legs’ at 12-23 months, but the concept of safety is absent. Frontovers are often the predictable consequence of a child following a parent into the driveway without their knowledge.
Chart, Statistics, Graphics
Below are KidsAndCars.org charts and graphs which can 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.
Click on an image below to open a full PDF file of the chart.. Please note, the PDF files are large and may take some time to open in your browser.
Technology
Aftermarket technology is available to reduce the blindzone in front of your vehicle. All vehicles can be retrofitted with camera systems to help keep children safe because you cannot avoid hitting what you cannot see.
TEGO CAM is an affordable, easy to install and use, app-enabled front camera system which allows you to see an unobstructed view of your car’s front blind zone at a simple touch of a button on any mobile phone or tablet. With more and more tragic deaths and injuries to children and pets each year from front blind zones on trucks and SUVs, TEGO CAM is the solution to every parents’ peace of mind. Please visit
www.tegoautoproducts.com for more information.
Video link- https://youtu.be/LWq6U9hplLE
Disclaimer of Endorsement: Kids and Car Safety does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, brands or services listed on our website. We encourage visitors to carefully assess whether any product, service or brand will meet the needs of their specific circumstance. Kids and Car Safety is not responsible for the availability or content of these external sites, nor do they endorse, warrant, or guarantee the products, services, or information described or offered on these external sites.
Some vehicles come with technology that can help avoid front collisions, but not all driver assistance systems can detect pedestrians, especially small children. Below is additional information about common driver assistance systems from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Automatic emergency braking systems:
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems detect an impending forward crash with another vehicle in time to avoid or mitigate the crash. These systems first alert the driver to take corrective action to avoid the crash. If the driver’s response is not sufficient to avoid the crash, the AEB system may automatically apply the brakes to assist in preventing or reducing the severity of a crash. AEB systems, such as dynamic brake support (DBS) and crash imminent braking (CIB), have the potential not only to save lives but also to reduce moderate and less severe rear-end crashes that are common on our roadways. However, these systems are NOT designed to detect pedestrians.
Dynamic Brake Support versus Crash Imminent Braking
If the driver brakes but not hard enough to avoid the crash, dynamic brake support (DBS) automatically supplements the driver’s braking in an effort to avoid the crash. If the driver does not take any action to avoid the crash, crash imminent braking (CIB) automatically applies the vehicle’s brakes to slow or stop the car, avoiding the crash or reducing its severity.
PEDESTRIAN AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
What is pedestrian automatic emergency braking?
A pedestrian automatic emergency braking (PAEB) system—also known as frontal pedestrian impact mitigation braking—is an emerging safety technology that provides automatic braking for vehicles when pedestrians are in front of the vehicle and the driver has not acted to avoid a crash.
How does it work?
A PAEB system is a crash avoidance system that uses information from forward-looking sensors to automatically apply or supplement the brakes when the system determines a pedestrian is in danger of being hit by a vehicle. PAEB systems typically use cameras, but some also use a combination of cameras and radar sensors.
What types of crashes does it prevent?
Many pedestrian crashes occur when a pedestrian is crossing the street in front of the vehicle. Four common pedestrian crash scenarios include when the vehicle is:
- Heading straight and a pedestrian is crossing the road;
- Turning right and a pedestrian is crossing the road;
- Turning left and a pedestrian is crossing the road; and
- Heading straight and a pedestrian is walking along or against traffic.
Does NHTSA recommend PAEB?
NHTSA has not set performance specifications for this feature, but NHTSA recognizes PAEB as a promising technology that may be added to the 5-Star Safety Ratings list of recommended technologies in the future. PAEB systems are an option on many new cars, SUVs and trucks and can help you avoid a crash. To find out if PAEB is available in the vehicle you’re interested in buying, check out the manufacturer’s website.
Forward Collision
WHAT IS A FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM?
A forward collision warning (FCW) system is an advanced safety technology that monitors a vehicle’s speed, the speed of the vehicle in front of it, and the distance between the vehicles. If vehicles get too close due to the speed of the rear vehicle, the FCW system will warn that driver of an impending crash. It’s important to note that FCW systems do not take full control of the vehicle or keep the driver from operating it.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
FCW systems use sensors to detect slower-moving or stationary vehicles. When the distance between vehicles becomes so short that a crash is imminent, a signal alerts the driver so that the driver can apply the brakes or take evasive action, such as steering, to prevent a potential crash. Vehicles with this technology provide drivers with an audible alert, a visual display, or other warning signals, and in this way, help prevent frontal crashes into the rear of slower moving or stopped vehicles.
Frontover Studies
Below are studies specific to frontover injuries and deaths. There have been several studies published that address frontovers but there is still much to be learned.
