Preventing driveway deaths, injuries & accidents amongst preschoolers

New Zealand has too many driveway accidents affecting kids under 5 years old. We take a look at the key facts, how to spot dangerous driveways and safety checks you can make to prevent accidents happening.

Check out these tips on how to keep your kids safe around driveways:

Key facts

• Children at the most risk are aged between one and three years old.  
• Driveway accidents in New Zealand are more common in the summer months between December and February when children are more likely to be playing outside.
• Most driveway accidents happen in the afternoon between 4.00pm and 7.00pm or in the morning between 10.00am and midday.  
• Unfortunately it's a sad fact that kids are more likely to be run over in the driveway by one of their own parents than anyone else.

Spotting dangerous driveways

• A driveway can be potentially dangerous when it is:
• A driveway with no separate pedestrian access to the house.
• A long driveway.
• A driveway which is not separated from a play area by a fence or hedge.
• A driveway in a quiet road or cul-de-sac.
• A driveway leading to lots of parking.
  

Safety checks

• Count the kids before you start to drive and ensure that they are either belted in the car or out of harms way.
• Check blind spots.
• Don't let kids use driveways as play areas.
• Ensure an adult is supervising toddlers and young children at all times.
• Ensure you have a safe fenced place for children to play.
• Ask visitors to park on the road.

For more information on driveway safety visit www.safekids.org.nz.

Remember to take a look at our other articles from helping kids to clean up their room, to flying with small children, making play dates fun, how to avoid tears at the school gate & more!

This article was written by the team at Under 5s.

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