18-month old killed by dad reversing: 5 ways to avoid such accidents

Yet another child has died in an accident involving a reversing car raising crucial questions about safety regulations that need to be followed while reversing a vehicle.

In an accident on Friday, an 18-month old girl Saba was killed when her dad Abid was reversing the car inside their compound in Hor Al Anz in Dubai.

The child was playing in the vicinity and ran behind the car seeing her father leave. According to reports, the girl was the only child of the couple.  

In a similar incident in 2014, another year-and-a-half old boy child was killed when his uncle reversed the car in Ras al Khaimah. The boy was playing inside the compound and had run towards the reversing car.

The previous year, a year old boy was killed in Fujairah when his father was reversing his car.

Father accidentally kills child in Fujairah 

Most accidents caused by reversing cars involve children as victims and occur at the time of removing the car. Such accidents can be avoided if drivers use a bit more precaution.

Here are five tips that could help:

Always back in to park

It is always recommended that you back in to park which could mean you don’t have to reverse the car to take it out.

Walk around

Walk around the vehicle to see if there are kids around before you remove the car from the parking. Be sure to know the exact location of your kids. If there are toddlers, ensure they are attended. Also ensure to look around again if you happen to have waited in your car for more than a while after getting in. It just takes a few seconds for the kids to jump in.

Know the blind spots. Mirrors don’t always help

Do not trust the rear view mirrors alone. Be aware of the blind spots. It varies between vehicles.  

Rear-view cameras

Most modern cars come with sensors and rearview cameras that would alert you in case of an object or a child comes in your way while reversing.

Yet, drivers need to be careful of a running child. If you are using an older car, you can always install a sensor and a rearview camera for less than Dh1,000.

Educate and monitor your kids

Always educate your kids to stay away from cars, and reversing vehicles. Take special precaution with toddlers. They are curious and tend to come around a moving vehicle. Always ensure adult supervision when toddlers are playing outside.

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