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New law could eliminate tragic back-over deaths and injuriesby Maria Neider, KY3 News
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SPRINGFIELD -- Every week, on average nationwide, two children die in back-over accidents. It’s a tragedy that often happens right in a family’s driveway because of dangerous blind zones behind vehicles. Losing a child is devastating. It’s even more heart wrenching when a parent or relative is to blame. Here are the stories from two mothers in New York whose children survived being runover. "As I was backing up, I started to hear screams. At first, I thought it was children playing and then I realized it was screams of terror,” said Sue Auriemma, who hit her daughter.
"My husband started pulling out of the driveway and my son thought he was leaving him. He dropped his shovel and wanted to catch up with him and cut out in front of the car. My son was lying on the driveway under the vehicle,” said Ann Marie Pszybylski.
Experts call it “Bye-bye Syndrome.” That’s when a parent leaves the home after saying good-bye and the child runs outside to see the parent one more time.
"At least 50 children every week in the United States are backed over; now, I'm not saying 15; I'm saying 50, 5-0,” said Janette Fennell, founder of Kids and Cars.
Forty-eight of those children end up in an emergency room. At least two will die from their injuries.
Every week on average, two adults are also killed in back-over accidents. Most of them are senior citizens.
The problems are blind *zones*, not blind spots. Consumer Reports’ researchers found the bigger the car, the greater the threat.
Even if a driver makes a point of checking a rear view mirror, the side mirrors and looking backwards through the rear window, that’s not enough. To show the problem, using a KY3 News van, we had 14 children and five adults stand right behind a van in which the key was not in the ignition and the emergency brake was set. None of the people were visible to the driver behind the wheel.
Technology and new laws are changing that. In a few years, bumper sensors and cameras could be on every new vehicle. The president signed a law last February that requires auto manufacturers to give drivers complete rear view visibility.
"You wouldn't buy a car if you couldn't see 20 or 30 feet going forward but we're buying these cars when we can't see 20 or 30 feet when we're going backwards,” said Fennell.
The blind zone behind the KY3 News van is 19 feet. Consumer Reports’ test found one vehicle with a 69-foot blind zone, the 2006 Jeep Commander Limited.
We went shopping for solutions. We first found mirrors advertised with wide rear-angle views – and somewhat deceiving pictures. They’re inexpensive $29.99, but they’re made for blind *spots* and the mirrors have very limited visibility.
"These will not give you the availability to see somebody directly right behind you, where your bumper is, right next to the license plate,” said Doug Putman, who works at the Pep Boys store.
Auto experts say a camera gives the best coverage.
"You really should go with that type of system because that really is the one that's the most safe and secure,” said Putman.
Bumper cameras give complete wide-angle rear visibility. They can cost hundreds with installation, but possibly can protect a loved one’s life.
"This camera system, when you put it in reverse, automatically comes on,” said Don Fleury of Creative Car Audio. "So, no matter where you are, when you're in reverse, that image is always displayed."
In back-over accidents, 70-percent of the time, the driver is a direct relative
"The people who love them the most . . . are now responsible for their death. And that is just something that is absolutely preventable,” said Fennell.
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