Using information extracted from coroners records, this report summarises the characteristics of 36 events that occurred between 1996 and 1998 involving fatalities of young children in Australia as a result of impacts with low-speed motor vehicles. Summary accounts of other studies are also provided. Most of the cases involved young toddlers who had positioned themselves close by stationary vehicles in the driveways of suburban residences. They were old enough to be mobile but too small to be easily visible from the driving position. The vehicles tended to be large, the majority being large 4 WD passenger vehicles, large utility vehicles, delivery vans or heavy trucks, although either a sedan or a station wagon was involved in about one-fifth of the cases. The development of a preventative strategy will need to consider how to increase public awareness, encourage modification of high risk driveway environments, and equip vehicles with devices to enhance object detection. (Author/publisher)
Abstract