| Over a hundred people - mostly children - are killed | | | | The irony of it all is that all this is unnecessary and |
| and 6,000 are injured yearly by vehicles that are | | | | can be prevented with the use of reverse parking |
| backing up, according to the US National Highway | | | | sensors or backup sensors. The NHTSA said these |
| Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The editors | | | | devices can prevent accidents in over 90 percent of |
| of Parent magazine said the usual victim is a | | | | cases. They sell for about $50 to $450 depending on |
| two-year-old who is hit by a relative or family friend | | | | the features and beep or talk to you as you get |
| backing out of a driveway. | | | | close to an object while backing up. |
| In 1990 alone, the NHTSA said there were about | | | | However, not all vehicles have backup sensors and |
| 182,000 police-reported injuries and 185 fatalities | | | | not all people are aware of their importance. Of the |
| caused by backover accidents. However, experts | | | | 17 million new vehicles sold in the United States last |
| believe the figures could be higher since most deaths | | | | year, only 900,000 use them, according to Ward's |
| are unaccounted for or underreported. | | | | Communications, an automotive statistics |
| Another reason for this is the current popularity of | | | | clearinghouse. |
| SUVs (sport-utility vehicles) that have large rear blind | | | | "What's going to drive the increase of these safety |
| spots, making it difficult if not impossible for the | | | | technologies in the marketplace is consumer demand. |
| driver to see what is behind the vehicle. Consumer | | | | The technology will become more and more |
| Reports said some vehicles have rear blind spots as | | | | prevalent as more consumers see the utility of it and |
| deep as 50 feet with large trucks and vans emerging | | | | demand it, and are willing to pay for it.," said Eron |
| as the worst offenders. | | | | Shosteck, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile |
| This concern was echoed by the US Centers for | | | | Manufacturers. |
| Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which said that | | | | Fortunately, reverse parking sensors are readily |
| backover accidents pose a substantial risk for severe | | | | available and easy to install. If your car doesn't have |
| injury and death to children. Between 2001 and 2003, | | | | one, you can get a reverse parking sensor kit for a |
| the CDC reported that an estimated 7,475 children | | | | reasonable price and be free from costly repairs and |
| aged 1 -14 were treated in American emergency | | | | backover accidents. This simple solution can save you |
| departments for backover-related injuries. | | | | time, money and more importantly, lives. Ask your |
| Twenty-eight percent of those injuries occurred to | | | | dealer about these life-saving devices today and hit |
| the head, face and neck while over 53 percent | | | | the road without hitting other people. |
| occurred in the arms and legs. | | | | |