To investigate vehicle-related countermeasures to reduce the risk of
young children being killed or injured by reversing motor vehicles,
particularly those on private driveways.
Method
A review of technology for proximity sensors and
visual aids
Measuring the rearward field of view for a range of vehicles,
Theoretical investigation to establish required detection
distances,
Acquiring and evaluating several proximity sensors and
visual aids and
Determining the improvement provided by these devices when
fitted to vehicles.
Conclusions (the emphasis has been added in response to
misleading claims about some types of equipment)
A slow moving vehicle is a deadly hazard for young children
due to the risk of them being knocked over and crushed by the wheels
Most cars and 4WDs have very poor rearward visibility for
detecting objects the size of toddlers
Proximity sensors
(parking aids) alone cannot provide
sufficient warning to drivers that a toddler is in the path of a
reversing vehicle-
they are not a "safety
device".
Lens type visual aids
are totally inadequate for detecting
children behind vehicles - the image is too small and
distorted and
incident light on the lens can obscure the view.
A video camera system can provide the driver with a good
view to the rear except, possibly, for locations very close to the back
of the vehicle. In any case, there is also a need to alert the driver
if there is an object close to the back when reverse is first engaged.
A combination of video
camera and short-range proximity
sensor
would cover all critical blind spots at the rear (see diagram)
18 Sep 08 AAA Foundation: The AAA Foundation in collaboration with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently completed a report on new car features and driving-aid technologies: Backing Aid Sensors and Rear-View Cameras:
They’re designed to assist the driver by warning as a vehicle backs
slowly toward an object, but they won’t detect everything in a
vehicle’s path. Most backing aid systems can’t detect a child,
object or animal directly underneath the bumper and don’t provide a
warning when a car is backing up at speeds faster than 3 to 6 mph.
There were several scenarios in which respondents reported that their
backing aid system would help them avoid a collision “fairly well” or
“perfectly,” when in reality it would be likely to work poorly or not
work at all.
16 Dec 14 Nine News: New braking technology developed in Australia to save young livesComment: reversing cameras and other technologies
can reduce but will not "prevent" these incidents - there is no
substitute for close supervision of children near vehicles. For example many incidents involve children crawling under vehicles)
15 Jan 12 Pettracker: The Tagg™ pet tracking system
uses advanced GPS tracking technology to allow you to see where your
dog is and receive a notification if he or she wanders off...[tag kids?]
4 Dec 07 NRMA Insurance: Family sedans lag behind in reversing
- NRMA Insurance has today praised the increasing number of
manufacturers who have adopted potentially life saving reversing camera
technology in a bid to reduce the number of children injured in
reversing incidents.
23 Feb 07 RElectronics: Life Saving New Release from Raymarine - Each LifeTag pendant broadcasts a unique identification code back to
the LifeTag base station, telling it that its wearer is “safe”. In the
event of “man overboard”, the link between the victim’s pendant and the
LifeTag base station is broken and the alarm is raised automatically
onboard the boat...
7 Feb 06. Polaris have
introduced a 3.5" monitor with their reversing camera. It fits neatly
beside the windscreen
pillar so that the driver can view both the monitor and external rear
view mirror.
24 Oct 05 SMH: Accident
sparks call for 4WD cameras - Pressure
is growing for rear-vision cameras to be made mandatory in all
four-wheel-drives after Phil Kearns's daughter was accidentally run
over. Comment: a camera would reduce
the risk but there is no
substitute for adult supervision of children near vehicles.
Crossecom People
Tagging - for "Anyone whose whereabouts is necessary to monitor for
safety, security or audit monitoring." - electronic tagging of kids
seems draconian but it has some other benefits.
8 Nov 02 Auto.com: Small team,
big results [in fuel economy]- Aerodynamic changes include
replacing the side view mirrors with a small exterior camera and
video screens
6 Nov 02 CBC: Kids
And SUVs: Preventing Accidents - [in the USA] at least 53
children have died and 28 have been seriously injured so far this year
by a car
running over them...
