Most Back-Over Accidents Involve Children

POSTED: 12:57 PM PDT June 14, 2004
UPDATED: 3:45 PM PDT June 14, 2004

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Every year, children are hurt or killed because drivers don't see them while backing up. And more often than not, the child's own mother or father is behind the wheel, according to statistics.

A new study by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration shows back-over accidents kill 90 people each year, and almost half are younger than 4 years old. But, the government isn't required to collect the accident data, nor study backup warning devices, which is something consumer advocates, hospitals and one mother hope to change.

Lisa Rice's family was camping at Bodega Bay last summer when she backed up her pickup truck and ran over her 5-year-old son, Craig. Her boyfriend was guiding her on the driver side, but neither saw the boy come behind until it was too late.

"I saw him laying underneath the driver area," Rice said. "I lost it. I turned around and screamed as loud as I could."

Rice rushed Craig to a local Coast Guard station, but no one could save him.

Trauma surgeon Dr. Stephen Greenholz says he's seen a surge in back-over accidents.

"I really don't think the general public is aware this is a problem," Greenholz said. "I think it's just a lot of kids around vehicles. This has never been a problem that has been ever been addressed in any kind of driver education, driver safety. So, it's ignored."

According to some consumer advocates, another contributing factor is that more people are buying larger vehicles with larger blind spots.

While experts say nothing can replace careful supervision, there is technology that can help. Rear-obstacle sensor systems use microwave energy to detect objects and give an audio warning.

"As you get closer and closer to it, the frequency of the beeps pick up to full on at about 3 feet," said Speed-O-Tach spokesman John Scholz.

More expensive technology shows a driver in real time -- exactly what's behind the vehicle up to 100 feet. Some manufacturers are offering this as an option on some vehicles for 2004-2005. A camera sends a wide-angle view to the driver on a screen on the dash. Consumer Reports says it's the best way to see small children, but it's expensive and not available on many vehicles.

Congress is considering a bill that would require the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration to collect back-over data and test warning devices.