The advocacy group
Kids and Cars sent out an e-mail alert last week saying:
May has been a particularly tragic month for children being hit by vehicles (backovers and frontovers). During the past two weeks, at least 12 children have lost their lives all over the country. There also have been many more incidents where children have been critically injured.
May 28, 2008 Child hit, killed by car - St. Petersburg, Fla.
May 25, 2008 Toddler accidentally run over, killed In church parking lot - Whitewater, Wis.
May 24, 2008 Woman accused of hit-and-run death - Lower Onondaga Park, N.Y.
May 22, 2008 17-month-old Rainer girl dead after father backs over her with Jeep - Rainer, Wash.
May 22, 2008 2-year-old girl hit by car, killed by family friend - Greenwood, S.C.
May 21, 2008 Toddler hit by pickup, killed - Waynesville, Fla.
May 21, 2008 Toddler dead after being hit by car in driveway - Swisher, Iowa
May 21, 2008
Steven Chapman's daughter killed by SUV in driveway - Franklin, Tenn.
May 20, 2008 Mom kills tot in driveway tragedy - Garland, Texas
May 19, 2008 7-year-old is run over by a pickup - East Dubuque, Ill.
May 15, 2008 2-year-old dies after being struck by vehicle - Longview, Texas
May 15, 2008 Toddler killed by SUV - Roosevelt, Utah
The organization urges parents to "simply assume a child is behind or in front of your car every time you move it." Here are some more safety tips from the group:
- Walk around and behind a vehicle prior to moving it.
- Know where your kids are. Make children move away from your vehicle to a place where they are in full view before moving the car and know that another adult is properly supervising children before moving your vehicle.
- Teach children that "parked" vehicles might move. Let them know that they can see the vehicle, but the driver might not be able to see them.
- Consider installing cross-view mirrors, audible collision detectors, rearview video camera and/or some type of backup detection device.
- Be aware that steep inclines and large SUVs, vans and trucks add to the difficulty of seeing behind a vehicle.
- Teach your children to never play in, around or behind a vehicle, and always set the emergency brake.
- Keep toys and other sports equipment off the driveway.
- Keep vehicles locked at all times, even in the garage or driveway, and always set your parking brake.
is available at the organization's Web site.
Click here to see some of the technology that is available to help prevent backover accidents.
Another tragic addition to this list. An Ice Cream truck...
