Parking Lot Safety: Tips For Children And Parents

For many children, they are taught safe driving and passenger habits early
on in their life, such as the importance of wearing safety belts and the
dangers of texting while driving. A report released by the U.S. Department
of Transportation indicates teaching children safe habits for walking
outside and around vehicles is as beneficial as safe habits inside
a vehicle.

According to the report, 1,043 children 14 and under were killed in car
crashes in the United States from 2008-2011, while another 30,000 were
injured during that same period of time. Of the fatalities, 85% were a
result of non-traffic motor vehicle crashes while 60% of those injured
were non-occupants, such as pedestrians or bicyclists. While these numbers
present a grim reality, parents can actively prevent accidents by discussing
the dangers of moving and parked cars with their children.

Check out our Missouri lawyers’ discussion regarding a few tips to keep
kids safe in and around vehicles.

• Walk around your vehicle. Before entering your vehicle, make a complete circle around it, checking
  for children. Larger vehicles such as SUVs, trucks, and minivans can make
  visibility difficult, particularly if smaller children are present. Having
  an awareness of the proximity of children around your vehicle will make
  you more prepared for the unexpected.
• Know where your children are. Children are often injured when making an unexpected dash to greet a driver
  or give their goodbyes. Before moving your vehicle, be certain to know
  the location of children. Once you have entered the vehicle, have another
  adult present to wait with children so you can move to a safe distance.
  Always check your mirrors and back up slowly.
• Teach kids that parked cars can move too. Children are taught at an early age to be cautious around moving vehicles
  or crossing streets. Add parked cars and vehicles to your lessons on safety
  precautions. Teach children that parked vehicles can move too, and therefore,
  they should never play on, in, or around them.

• Talk to kids about parking lot safety. Long before they start driving, children spend a lot of time getting in
  and out of vehicles, particularly before and after school or when accompanying
  parents on shopping trips and other errands. Have conversations with your
  children about parking lot safety. Let them know that just because they
  see a driver this doesn’t mean the driver can see them. Just like
  the advice given when children cross streets, teach them to look before
  they exit a vehicle or step into parking lot traffic.

If you would like further information, call
Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C. today at our office in Springfield.
Call on our accident attorneys if you or your child has been hit by a reckless or negligent driver –
we can help you discover if you have a case.

Call or text 888-287-1046 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form