| While many children like to spend time on the | | | | children under the age of six. A third of these |
| driveway playing basketball, drawing with chalk or | | | | children were killed in the front garden, parking |
| just playing and having a good time, their safety | | | | lots and driveways. |
| should be a major concern. The following tips will | | | | One of the main reasons for this is because it is |
| help you keep your children safe while playing on | | | | very difficult, if not impossible, to see small |
| your driveway. | | | | children when backing up. Children may also be in |
| The vast majority of driveway accidents occur | | | | the blind spot of a reversing car and not realise it |
| when a child is hit by an automobile. After all, | | | | or understand that the person cannot see them. |
| driveways are meant to be driven on. Luckily, | | | | Technology has gotten better with cars with |
| there are ways to keep your children safe while | | | | cameras that can be seen through the navigation |
| on your driveway. First, try to block the driveway | | | | system when reversing, but for the most part, |
| off as much as possible when your kids are | | | | only newer high-end cars are equipped with this |
| playing so that a car coming in has to stop or | | | | technology. |
| slow down. You don't have to barricade your | | | | Research has shown that generally the greatest |
| children in, but even one rubbish bin can prevent a | | | | number of fatal driveway accidents occur on |
| fatal accident. Just place the bin in the middle of | | | | weekdays as opposed to weekends. They usually |
| the entrance to the driveway while your kids are | | | | occur between 8:00am and 10:00am in the |
| playing and when a car comes, move the rubbish | | | | morning, and between 4:00pm and 6:00pm in the |
| bin after your children get out of the way of the | | | | afternoon. Strangely enough, most of these |
| car. You should also try to educate your kids, no | | | | accidents occur in good weather and bright |
| matter how young they may be, about the | | | | conditions, when one expects visibility to be best. |
| dangers of running out into the road after a toy | | | | Try to keep your kids in at night, too, and if they |
| or bouncing ball. | | | | are out on the driveway at night, make sure that |
| It may seem strange that driveways pose such a | | | | the driveway is properly illuminated to aid in |
| danger, however they have proven to be a | | | | visibility. |
| major cause for motor vehicle deaths amongst | | | | |