Bumper Guardian

March 10, 2010

Common Types of Collisions Between Young Pedestrians and Motorists

Filed under: Information,News — Tags: — Your Bumper Guardian @ 6:09 am

By NHTSA

What Happens

  • Prevent Pedestrian Crashes-1Child darting out into street at corner or mid-block.

This type of crash commonly occurs in neighborhoods where children are playing. A ball might roll into the street and the child runs to chase after it. Teach children to ask an adult for help before retrieving a ball or any object in the street.

  • Prevent Pedestrian Crashes-2Vehicle turning into path of a child.

Children may assume that a green light or WALK signal clears them from danger. It is important to teach children to be responsible and cautious regardless of signs or signals.

  • Prevent Pedestrian Crashes-3Child hidden from view by an ice cream truck.

Anxious and excited children near ice cream trucks may not be aware of their surroundings and run into the street. Cars should stop before slowly passing the ice cream truck.

  • Prevent Pedestrian Crashes-4Child hidden from view by bus – driver does not stop.

All States require traffic in both directions to stop on undivided highways when students are getting on or off a school bus. Children who must cross the street after exiting the bus should walk to the edge of the bus, look left-right-left, and cross when it is clear and the bus driver has signaled it is safe to cross.

  • Prevent Pedestrian Crashes-5Vehicle backing up in roadways, driveways, or parking lots.

Children should be taught to look for people in the driver’s seat and illuminated reverse tail lights before walking behind vehicles. Treat driveways like other intersections — stop at the edge and look LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT for cars pulling into or backing out of driveways.

Share

March 3, 2010

Children are often hurt by backing vehicles

Filed under: Information — Tags: — Your Bumper Guardian @ 6:35 am

By NHSTA

CPSafetuTip7.inddChildren hit by cars can be hurt or killed, even when cars are moving slowly. Toddlers (1 and 2 year olds) are most often hurt by a backing vehicle. If a child is playing in a driveway or parking area (A), a driver may not see her/him. Preschoolers (3 and 4 year olds) are most often hit when running across a street near home.
Falls from tricycles or other play vehicles can cause serious head and brain injury. These injuries to young children can be as serious as injuries to older children falling from bikes.

DANGERS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN ON THE MOVE:
■ darting out into traffi c from the middle of the block;
■ playing in or near the street; and
■ riding a tricycle or bike in a parking lot, driveway, or street.

YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NOT SMALL ADULTS!
■ They cannot judge speed or distance of vehicles moving toward them.
■ They move quickly and can run into the street without warning.
■ They don’t know safety rules and expect adults to watch out for them.
■ They are small and hard for drivers to see.

TAKE THESE STEPS TO SAFETY:
■ Supervise, supervise, supervise
Parents and caregivers must watch toddlers and preschoolers closely when they
are near parked or moving vehicles. To supervise properly, you must be near your
child at all times, not watching from a distance. Hold your child’s hand when you
walk together along the street (B).
■ Get them in the habit
When walking, talk to your child about street safety. Show him/her how to stop at
the edge of the street and look for cars. Don’t expect your young child to do this
by herself/himself. Start children wearing helmets with their fi rst tricycles or play
vehicles. When children begin helmet use early, they are more likely to keep the
habit in later years. Make a rule: No helmets, no bike.

■ Set a safe example
Young children learn by watching adults. Show them safe ways to cross streets
and always wear a helmet when you ride a bike.

■ Find safe places to play
Keep children away from traffi c (C). Fenced

Share

March 2, 2010

Backover and Non-Crash Events Special Crash Investigations – VIII

Filed under: Information,News,Research — Tags: — Your Bumper Guardian @ 6:59 am

By Augustus  Chidester, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
April 13, 2008

Backover Crash Summary

•2003 Chevrolet Avalanche

•Driver stopped at end of private road to retrieve mail and refuse container

•Spoke with a neighbor and then proceeded up the drive

•Six-year-old male on bike present (son of neighbor)

•Serious injuries to a child (bicycle helmet in use)

•Refuse container pulled alongside the vehicle with his left hand

•Deposited the refuse container in the common area and turned the vehicle to the right

•Drove forward ~ 28’and stopped the vehicle

•Child entered common area, lost control of bike and fell

•Driver shifted to reverse, checked his mirrors and started to back into his driveway

•The child was located approx. 12’ behind the centerline of the vehicle

•The child was on ground still straddling the bike

•Driver used the left mirror while backing to reference the tire relationship to driveway edge

•Driver heard something, stopped and exited his vehicle

•Child was under vehicle situated toward the right rear wheel

•Child suffered skull fracture, orbital fracture and facial abrasions

•Bicycle helmet was also fractured during crash

Summary

•When the child fell on bike, he was approximately 12 feet behind vehicle on ground

•Scene, vehicle, and driver measurements indicate that the driver needed 36.8 feet to see a 28″ tall target directly behind the vehicle

Share

March 1, 2010

Backover and Non-Crash Events Special Crash Investigations – VII

Filed under: Information,News,Research — Tags: — Your Bumper Guardian @ 7:50 am

By Augustus  Chidester, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
April 13, 2008

Example 3Hyperthermia Incident -Summary

•2002 BMW M5 four door

•Springtime•Remote level investigation

•Parking lot of office park area

•15-month-old child left in vehicle ~ 8 hours –fatal

•Minimal shade

Environment

•Eight o’clock hour:

•Clear, 58°F

•Calm winds

•Three o’clock hour:

•Partly cloudy 89°F

•Breeze <8 mph

Vehicle

•2002 BMW M5 four-door

•Black interior

•Aftermarket tint on side windows and backlight

•Sunroof was OEM tint

•Equipped with BMW’s integrated theft deterrent package

•Package included a roof mounted interior motion detector

Timeline

1.Four children in car(15 months -12 years)

2.Dropped three at school

3.Driver intended to drop 15-month-old at day care

4.Unsure if this is normal routine

5.Conference call at 0830 for driver at office

6.Parked at ~0830, closed windows, locked vehicle (setting alarm system)

7.15-month-old remained in vehicle strapped in CSS

8.Child activated motion alarm 4 times over course of day

9.Driver turned it off remotely each time

10.At 1520 departed office discovered unresponsive child in car

11.EMS called, child pronounced

Summary

Thermal Imaging

•Max ambient temperature during incident was 89°F

•Fire dept. opened door (and vented) for an unknown period of time

•Thermal imaging indicated interior temp as 142°F

Security System

•Police download data from security system’s computer

•Downloaded data indicated the alarm activated five times

•Four by the child

•One by police technician at scene to verify system operation

•System does not time stamp activations

Share

February 26, 2010

Backover and Non-Crash Events Special Crash Investigations – VI

Filed under: Information,News,Research — Tags: — Your Bumper Guardian @ 7:18 am

By Augustus  Chidester, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
April 13, 2008

Example 2 Backover IncidentRemote Level Investigation – Summary

•1996 Chevrolet pickup

•Daycare parking lot

•31-year-old male driver picking up daughter

•Another driver entered toleft and was picking up her four children

•As this driver exited the facility the subject boy was reportedly in the pickup truck on left side
photo of this vehicle

•Other driver was securing another child insafety seat

•4-y/o male exited vehicle and knelt down to play in a mud puddle 5 feet behind subject vehicle

•Driver backed out of lot, heard a bump, thought it was the pavement/ driveway edge

•Continued maneuver, saw child to left front next to mud puddle

•Police unsure which tire ran over child

•No identifiable marks on pickup truck

Visibility

•Exemplar 1996 Chevrolet pickup used

•Six-foot-tall surrogate driver used

•Centerline rear visibility 24.6 feet behind centerline to 28”tall target

•Child was approximately 5 feet behind bumper of pickup

Share
« Newer PostsOlder Posts »

Powered by Asha Solutions