Preventing Backovers in Your Driveways
When it comes to Seniorcare, we work hard to select, research, and share topics that will increase the quality of life of our readers as they do their best to care for their aging parents. Part of our mission is to provide warnings, so unnecessary errors and pain can be avoided. Today, we will discuss backovers. A subject that we feel absolutely obligated to share with you.
As you know, spring is the time of the year when nature comes to life, and we come outside. Grandchildren, children, parents, grandparents — most of us want to get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air. Most grandchildren make driveway their own playground. All that traffic and grandchildren is a backover accident waiting to happen.
WHAT ARE BACKOVERS?
Vehicle backover accidents happen when someone, without a driver’s knowledge, is positioned behind a vehicle as the driver is backing out of the driveway. Most victims of backovers are the children and Elderly who were not able to get out of the way of a backing vehicle. The tragic fact is that in 70% of the incidents, the driver is a family member.
This makes such situations twice as painful.
HORRIFYING STATISTICS
Can you imagine backing over your very own precious grandchild or a loving grandmother?
Can you comprehend the emotional pain of hurting someone whom you love so dearly?
Those situations are horrifying — aren’t they?
But they do take place… They take place every day!!!
Those accidents take place on private driveways and not on public roads, so they are usually not included in government statistics. According to KidsAndCars.org, at least fifty (50) children are being backed over by vehicles every week. Forty-eight (48) are treated in emergency rooms, and at least two (2) are killed every week.
Unfortunately, as our population ages, the number of backovers may grow on our driveways.
HOW CAN WE PREVENT BACKOVERS?
There is plenty we can do to prevent such incidents. Please keep in mind, that the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the blind spot it creates. It is a good practice to avoid driving when upset or distracted. Prevention requires ongoing awareness, supervision, and vigilance.
In addition, consider the following actions:
• install a back-up camera on Mom’s vehicle and teach her how to make a use of it every time she backs up;
• teach Dad to power down his cell phone which will eliminate distractions;
• ask Mom to turn off the car radio so she can stay focused;
• ask Dad to fasten his seatbelt before he puts the car in reverse;
• when backing up, teach Mom and Dad to do so S-L-O-W-L-Y and be prepared to stop.
We observe many conscientious Seniors checking the area behind their vehicles before they get inside. This is a good practice, but it is insufficient and can create a false sense of security. After all, small children can show up behind the car in a matter of seconds. If possible, in addition to walking around the vehicle, make certain that you ask the grandchildren to move away from the vehicle so they are in full view.
We and our loved ones leave our garages or driveways every day. The bottom line is that even though we have back-up cameras and blind spot mirrors on our vehicles, we must remain ever so vigilant.
NOTICE: We did not copyright this material. We consider it a public service announcement and encourage you to share this article with your loved ones and neighbors.
With love for the Elderly…
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