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Source: ONE News -
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An average of four children are killed on New Zealand's driveways every year, making it one of the most dangerous areas of a home.
Dozens more children are hospitalised and in 15 years, the
statistics have not improved.
Experts now are saying enough is enough and Kiwis need to do
something about it.
Experts like paediatric surgeon Dr Mike Shepherd, who has treated dozens of driveway injuries and now penned a report, because he says something must be done to combat such deaths.
"We're very motivated to not be the colloquial ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. I think that it's much easier to prevent these things, or it should be much easier to prevent these types of injuries, than it is to patch up injured children," says Shepherd.
Research shows three things need addressing.
Firstly, New Zealand's vehicles - it's been suggested things like cameras and sensors that improve visibility behind the driver become a standard part of the vehicle fleet.
Researchers say we also need to look at how Kiwis build homes.
"The longer driveways, the parking areas coming off driveways, we know those things are more likely to result in a driveway injury. And so I think there needs to be an awareness of this and some change in practice in order to make properties safer," says Shepherd.
But the simplest key to safety is driver awareness.
Safekids NZ spokeswoman Ann Weaver says many people think it's not going to happen to them.
"What we all do is jump in our cars, look in the rear vision mirrors, check the side mirrors, looks all clear, and put the car in reverse," says Weaver.
"What we do not think about, are blind spots and the only way to check those is to walk around the car, look under the car and make sure that there is no children all the way around before getting in and driving off."
It is a message the team at Safekids is doing all it can to promote, but they say it's time for a bigger and better campaign, like the drink-driving and speeding advertisements that are shown on television.
The problem is one of funding.
"It lacks ownership, there isn't a government agency that actually takes responsibility for this particular issue," says Weaver.
Four agencies which fund such campaigns were not willing to talk to ONE News on this issue, though one said a media campaign will not make too much of a difference.
New Zealand Transport Agency Andy Knackstedt says one only has to look at the road safety advertising campaigns which have been running for the past 15 years targeting drink driving, targeting speeding, targeting safetybelt wearing, and realise that putting an end to such problems is hard.
"People are still dying in large numbers on the road from drink driving crashes, people still drink and drive, they still drive too fast - there are no easy solutions to these problems," says Knackstedt.
Do you have any more solutions to bring down the number of driveway deaths in New Zealand? Comment below
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentdididar said on 2010-05-02 @ 19:11 NZDT: Report abusive post
I agree with raclaad, parents should supervise their kids as well especially if they often stray to neighbours' or shared dirveways. I live close to main road so often turn to my driveway quickly and my driveway slopes down so often I cannot see far into the driveway before I turn. Just today I drove into my driveway and OMG, the neighbours' kid was lying flat (yes, not running around but LYING DOWN FLAT on MY driveway!) I don't want to be mean to the kid/parent but this was too dangerous!
Twignz said on 2010-04-19 @ 22:12 NZDT: Report abusive post
One of the best things we can do is teach NZ'rs to reverse into their driveways, rather than reverse out. Sounds simple (and is), but very effective in reducing these sorts of accidents.
robert gregory said on 2010-04-19 @ 20:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
I had a lecture on child driveway deaths in 2003 based on research done prior to that, the solutions then were the same as they are now and yet no one listened, since then ive noticed this story every year in the media, its too much to believe action is going to be taken now
ralaad said on 2010-04-19 @ 19:21 NZDT: Report abusive post
How about some discipline around the house? When mum or dad leaves the house, kids (of all ages) to be locked up inside the house with an adult to supervise them. If no adult is available, the kids need to be in the car, the law says so. Before getting into the car, make sure there is no obstruction on the back of the car. If possible at all park the car, reverse, so that it is easy to drive away. Having a reversing camera is helpful, if finance permits.
kiwivic said on 2010-04-19 @ 19:17 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think the simplest solution is to fence driveways. most houses have a front fence so if the the driveway was fenced between the front fence and the house and then any others as required to the garage or carport this would make it so much safer. A small price to pay to protect our children. We have gates for stairs, fridge locks etc... Even a temporary fence would be better than nothing.