Wednesday, 27 January 2016 13:46
Jason Chambers, Acting CEO of Kidsafe said, "On average, 7 children aged 0-14 years are killed and 60 are seriously injured due to driveway run over incidents every year in Australia.
Most driveway run overs occur in the driveway of the child's own home, or in a friend or relative's driveway.
The
driver is usually a parent, relative or family friend. In 85% of cases, the driver
does not know that a child is close to the vehicle; they think they are being
looked after elsewhere.
Kidsafe Driveway Safety Video Click here to view the video
Mr Chambers said "the start of the school year is a time of excitement and households can become very busy, especially in the mornings and afternoons when families are coming to and from school and work".
Driveways are dangerous places for children - they are designed to allow vehicles access to and from a property and therefore present the same hazards as roads.
Children's unpredictability, their inquisitive nature and the fact that they are surprisingly quick and mobile, places them at increased risk around driveways.
Media
Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Media Communications, Kidsafe Victoria - 0417 329 201
Free Community Safety Resources for Parents
To create awareness of the dangers and assist parents in making their driveways safe, Kidsafe provides a SUPERVISE, SEPARATE & SEE safety kit, including a fact sheet and video, which can be accessed from the Kidsafe Victoria website.
These resources can be linked to by media outlets, websites of Members of Parliament, Local Councils, Preschools and Day Care Centres. The A4 fact sheet can also be printed out and displayed on notice boards for parents and carers to read.