DRIVEWAY DEATHS: FATALITIES OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN AUSTRALIA AS A RESULT OF LOW-SPEED MOTOR VEHICLE IMPACTS

Using information extracted from coronial records, this report summarises the characteristics of 36 events that occurred between 1996 and 1998 involving fatalities of young children in Australia a result of impacts with low-speed motor vehicles. Summary accou of other studies are also provided. Most of the cases involved y toddlers who had positioned themselves close by stationary vehicl in the driveways of suburban residences. They were old enough to mobile but too small to be easily visible from the driving positi The vehicles tended to be large, the majority being large 4WD passenger vehicles, large utility vehicles, delivery vans or heav trucks, although either a sedan or a station wagon was involved i about one-fifth of the cases. The development of a preventative strategy will need to consider how to increase public awareness, encourage modification of high risk driveway environments, and eq vehicles with devices to enhance object detection. (a)