I can't believe this almost happened. The kicker was that I *was* being careful. I was taking my boy to cub scouts, which is just around the block. As I was leaving, I instructed my 7 year old to go sit on the porch so I could see her and not run over her. I pulled out of the driveway and then immediately pulled back in because we forgot something, ran into the house to get it. During this very short amount of time, two neighbor girls came out and my daughter asked them to come sit with her so they would not get run over. Now, this time, I was a little distracted. I SHOULD HAVE walked around the back of the car and made sure there was nobody nearby. I started backing out again, stopped to look again, and this tiny kid on a bike (3 years old) pedals from behind my car to just barely within my vision! I about had a heart attack. Thank goodness I stopped when I did.
I do not have a sensor for items behind me. I can see how easy and fast a horrible accident like this could happen. So, I am committed to being extra super careful going forward, but I am wondering what suggestions you all might have. We live in one of those neighborhoods where all the kids are always out playing, and I do worry about the neighbors just running out behind my car at any time. Do you use a "spotter" or do you just walk behind your car and look around carefully before getting in and pulling out?
We do not have many kids in the neighborhood. The couple under 4-foot kids are seldom out of their yard. I generally walk behind the van to get to the driver's side. I announce to any kids (which their seldom are) to stand clear because I am leaving. Frequently I park backwards facing the street anyway.
Forget small children, I can't even see adults behind my van! My husband and I are looking at having a back-up camera installed in my minivan. We don't have any spare cash right now, but actually, it isn't as nearly as expensive as I thought it would be - about $100 for the camera and $100 to install. We're going to do that as soon as we have the chance.
I think going behind the vehicle and checking out the vicinity prior to pulling out will be good enough, most people probably dont even do that and that's how these little kids get run over.
When we bought the truck I now drive, we installed an after market backup camera. It was about $100. It was the compromise of buying the bigger vehicle. With my small car (that held almost no baby gear, let alone a second child) I had excellent visibility. However, I didn't feel safe driving this big vehicle without being able to see what was directly BELOW my field of vision. I highly recommend it. I don't know what brand it is, but if you want to know, pm me and I will dash out and check.
I drive I big, tall vehicle and the street is higher than our house so backing out I could never see. I bought a $40 back-up camera and had my hubby install it. It is bumper-level so I can see even very small items. Otherwise, I was constantly living in fear of running a child over.
Poor thing! I have a Tahoe and it is hard to see. My youngest is in MDO at a local church. My biggest fear was backing into a child or parent because I did have one close call. It is scary, and so thankful you did not hit her!! I usually just check my rear view, but we don't live in an area with a lot of little ones.
Holy Cow! Scary!
Tragedy avoided. (exhale)
I'm like you--I'm a freak about making sure I can SEE my kid when I'm moving a car, pulling out, etc. Now that it's nice, we often have 4-6 neighborhood kids in our driveway shooting hoops. I tend to walk around my car to double check, keeping them all in my sight the whole time.
Good thing moms have eyes in the back of our heads, huh?
I am paranoid about this because I have a 2nd cousin who backed over and killed his 2 year old daughter years ago. My mom almost drove over some neighbor kids hiding under a plastic kiddie pool when I was a kid. When my kids were little and we had little kids in the neighborhood I always walked around the back of the vehicle before pulling out. If there were kids outside I designated a "spotter" like you said or had all the kids stand to the side or in the front where I could see them. My new van has a back-up camera and sensor, thankfully, and most of the little kids in the neighborhood have grown up. I am so happy for you that you avoided this close call!
I always back in my driveway. Once, now keep in mind I was facing the
street, I put my car in drive and step on gas. Out from the bushes my
neighbors kid runs in front of my car. I went nuts. I will never forget that day.
Sometimes you can do everything right and something can happen. I am
happy for you, as I was for me, that these instances did not end in
tragedy. We can be so careful and one little three year old who moves like
lightening can change everything. Sorry you had to have that happen.
Spotter is a great thing! I make my husband watch the kids.
My sister accidentally killed my nephew like this so we are hyper vigilant! In our neighborhood my kids are the only kids so I worry that people aren't watching out for them so I've always got a hawk-eye on the little one and walk or bike with her.
Geez, how scary! I remember watching a 20/20 or some show like that where they had like 20 kids standing behind an SUV and were not visible in the mirrors! Since you do have a lot of little kids in the neighborhood I would consider one of those sensors. Glad the little guy wasn't hurt.
That is very scarey! I usually try to look behind my car, especially if kids are out playing. If I know kids are out there, I make sure they are stationary before I start moving.
The idea of backing into the driveway is a good one.
I am so glad that this had a happy ending!
Get a sensor for your car, mirror in your driveway or garage if that's plausible, shoo kids away out of your yard before you get in the car to drive away. Consider getting orange cones and signs to encourage kids to stay in a particular area of your yard...but still always double check before driving away.
http://safety.lovetoknow.com/Child_Safety_Alarm
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...
http://www.drivewaymirrors.com/
most of the kids in my neighborhood are tall enough for me to see, but I do worry about my kids and the other kids on the block when my neighbor is out in her car. We live on a cul de sac and the speed limit is 15 miles an hour, she lives on the very end of the road so she can just pull into her driveway without turning into it. She goes at least 40 miles an hour down the road and almost hit me walking with my son on a couple of occasions (I was about 7mnths preggo at the time and pretty hard to miss.)
I use a "spotter". I don't have the tiny kid issue but I have the old dog issue and am always checking to make sure she's safe. Thank God you stopped!!!
How about backing into your driveway? That way you will be seeing what is in front of you since there are so many kids.
Otherwise get a camera system to keep you safe.
Also kids have to learn to look at driveways for cars so that they can keep themselves safe.
I am glad that you did not hit the kid. But where were the parents?
The other S.
three yr old should not be unattended outside playing. a spotter would be the safest thing if the spotter were way off to the side and knew how to be a spotter. You could check behind your car but likety split a kid can get behind your car fast. We are in the habit of parking rear first so we drive out not reverse out of our driveways. We do get the neighbor kids in our yard because we have the most side yard play area. Were on a corner and park backwards (not ever using our garage for parking) because of cars going 30 mph around the corner. We dont want to be side swiped.
If I know the kids are out side and I happen to be leaving they all know they are to be on the grass so I can see everyone.
This being so robotic of a reaction for everyone around me because I sadly did hit a 8 year old on his bike in 2010.
We also have a natural reaction while out front to yell ''Car stay where you are''. and the kids all know they have to stop. And if need be pull as far over to the side as they can.
Street safety is number one on my list here at home. and I make sure that everyone is account for before pulling out. So i guess they could also be considered my spotter.
What happened to you was an honest whoa. Scary to say the least but it happens. You had know idea to suspect that there was another kiddo behind your car.
You always have to assume the kids are there though. It is when you are not assuming that something bad can happen. You can never feel to cautious about this. People look at me like I am crazy when I do five miles an hour when passing someone on a bike. Or the School kids walking home. you never know when the bicyclist may sneeze though and fly off track or the kids may see something they want to run after and bam. its over.
Always walk around the car once before getting in and survey the surroundings for possible kiddos who maybe crossing you path before you know it. Especially as we get towards warmer weather!
Take a deep breathe knowing you didnt hit the kiddo. You are very fortunate.
First, I make sure to have no bushes, shrubs etc that blocs the view of the street - if you have anything like that you may want to re think it.
How scary!!! I'm so glad things didn't end differently...I worry about this exact thing. Our lil neighbor (not quite 2) wanders over to our house almost every day. To play on our toys, to see my daughter (who is her babysitter) and she does wander into our garage. Mom is usually around somewhere, but not watching as closely as she should...one time I had to run full speed & hurdle over my landscaping to grab her as she walked out into the street! (I was IN my house!) I LOVE the mom...we are getting to be very good friends...but she doesn't watch closely, and I fear, one day, lil girl will have wandered over just as we are pulling out of our garage.
This post makes me realize I need to have a talk w/ her mommy!
luckily, our driveway is long enough that we don't back out of it, but when my little guy is outside, I make sure he is either on the patio where I can see him, or holding the hand of whoever is staying home with him. This is mine and my husband's worst fear - that one of us will be backing up and not see him (Both of our cars have good sized blind spots that could hide a child).
Thank goodness tragedy was avoided!
I have to walk behind my van to get around and get into my side...that is the only way that ensures that I have a look as to what is going on behind...for me though it isn't an option because of how it is parked in the garage
back into your driveway...
