Children at Risk death in Automobile backover accidents

Since 2002, there have been more than 9,000 non-traffic injuries involving children. Many of these accidents involved a motor vehicle backing up and striking a child because the driver was unable to see the child. In 2006 alone, 209 children were killed in these non-traffic accidents. (There isn’t more specific information on these accidents such as whether they were “backover deaths.â€� the federal government doesn’t track the details of these accident because often they don’t involve a collision and don’t occur on public roads.)

On December 30, 2005, Aliviah Gridley, 2, was killed when her uncle was backing up his pick up truck out of her parent’s driveway and backed over her. She darted behind the truck before anyone realized it and was struck and killed.

In a similar occurrence, Cameron Gulbransen, also 2, was killed when his father backed up his SUV and struck Cameron in the head with the rear bumper of his vehicle. Cameron’s father recalls what happened: “Quickly, I jumped from the vehicle and saw the most devastating scene of my life: My little Cameron was lying down with his blanket in his hand while bleeding profusely from his head. As a physician, I knew it was the end.â€�

There has been little progress made in getting the federal government involved in this issue. One piece of legislation, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law in July 2005 by President Bush. The Act requires that the Department of Transportation and related agencies “study effective methods for reducing injuries and deaths outside parked passenger vehicles.�

As of the date of this article, there were two bills sitting before Congress, one version sits before the Senate and the other before the House of Representatives. The bill, titled The Cameron Gulbranson Kids and Cars Safety Act of 2007 “would require that all U.S.-marketed vehicles (including garbage trucks and delivery vehicles) be designed to prevent backing incidents by providing an unobstructed rear view.� There is no language in the bill detailing what means would be used to provide the view; that would most likely occur if the bills were signed into law.

In the past, automobile manufacturers have not taken kindly to federal required safety features such as seat belts and airbags so it should come as no surprise that the auto makers are fighting this proposed legislation as well. Public safety advocacy groups are launching a media blitz regarding this issue, hoping it will put pressure on Congress to get this bill passed.

A few aftermarket supplies have taken advantage of the attention backover deaths has garnered by offering retrofit products that will prevent a backover death or injury. “Our products are ready today,â€� says Tom Malone, senior vice president of sales for Audiovox, an aftermarket supplier. “Drivers don’t have to wait for mandatory legislation that might take years to implement.â€�

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/safety/articles/116746/article.html