Back-up collision

Back-up collisions happen when a driver reverses the car into an object, person, or other car. Although most cars come equipped with rear view mirrors which are adequate for detecting vehicles behind a car, they are inadequate on many vehicles for detecting small children or objects close to the ground, which fall in the car's blind spot, particularly directly aft. That area has been called a "killing zone."[1] Large trucks have much larger blind spots that can hide entire vehicles and large adults.[1]

Back-up collision with a lamppost

Statistics

According to research by the advocacy web site kidsandcars.org, back up collisions were the leading cause (34%) for U.S. non-traffic fatalities of children under 15 from 2006–2010.[2]

The U.S. Center for Disease Control reported that from 2001–2003, an estimated 7,475 children (CI = 4,453--10,497) (2,492 per year) under the age of 15 were treated for automobile back-over incidents.[3] About 300 fatalities per year result from backup collisions.[4]

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that back-up collisions most often:[5]

  • occur in residential driveways and parking lots
  • involve sport utility vehicles (SUVs) or small trucks
  • occur when a parent, relative or someone known to the family is driving
  • particularly affect children less than five years old

The driver of the car backing up and hitting an object, a person, another car, or property is usually considered to be at fault.

Prevention and regulation

Prevention organizations suggest that parents use common sense, and also take safety measures such as installing cross view mirrors, audible collision detectors, backup camera, or some type of reverse backup sensors. Furthermore, safer backing up is done when the driver turns completely around and looks out of the rear window of the car, rather than relying on mirrors. This provides a wider field of vision and better control of the vehicle.

In the United States, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007[6] required the federal Secretary of Transportation to issue backup collision safety regulations within 3 years and require full compliance within 4 years after final rulemaking. As of 2012, regulations are still under study.[4] About half of model year 2012 automobiles already have backup cameras installed.[4]

Blind spot monitors and other technology

Blind spot monitors are an option that may include more than monitoring the sides of the vehicle. It can include "Cross Traffic Alert," "which alerts drivers backing out of a parking space when traffic is approaching from the sides."[7][8][9]

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See also

References
  1. "The danger of blind zones The area behind your vehicle can be a killing zone". Consumer Reports. Consumers Union. March 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  2. "U.S NON-TRAFFIC FATALITIES BY TYPE (2006-2010)" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  3. "Nonfatal Motor-Vehicle--Related Backover Injuries Among Children --- United States, 2001--2003".
  4. "Government Backs Up On Rearview Car Cameras". National Public Radio. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  5. Deaths and Injuries Resulting from Certain Non-Traffic and Non-Crash Events. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. May 2004.
  6. Pub.L. 110–189
  7. Ford Motor Company (2008). "See It, Hear It, Feel It: Ford Seeks Most Effective Driver Warnings for Active Safety Technology. Increased warnings indicate potentially hazardous lane changes". Gale, Cengage Learning/Free Library. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  8. Jensen, Christopher (August 18, 2009). "Are Blind Spots a Myth?". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  9. Automobile Blind-Spot Monitoring System, Tri-City Insurance News, January 27, 2006 Archived December 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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