Blind spots are a deadly flaw for most SUVs

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents nine of the major car companies, supports the bill.

“We think it advances safety,” says spokeswoman Gloria Bergquist. “It’s good public policy and good for children. We think all of this makes a lot of sense.”

There’s no need to wait for Congress
Backup cameras are now available — standard or as options — on a number of large vehicles. With that camera the big blind spot in the rear disappears. Some of the safety systems also have sensors that set off an alarm if something is back there.

Janette Fennell, the Kansas mom who founded Kids and Cars, drives an SUV with a built-in backup camera. "I'd never drive a car that doesn't have it,” she told me.

As soon as she puts her car in reverse the camera comes on and automatically shows what’s behind her vehicle in the dashboard navigation screen.

Safety recommendations — Walk around and behind a vehicle prior to moving it. — Know where your kids are. Make children move away from your vehicle to a place where they are in full view before moving the car and know that another adult is properly supervising children before moving your vehicle. — Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute. — Hold children’s hand when leaving the vehicle — Teach your children to never play in, around or behind a vehicle. — Keep toys and other sports equipment off the driveway. — Teach children that “parked” vehicles might move. Let them know that they can see the vehicle; but the driver might not be able to see them. — Consider installing cross view mirrors, audible collision detectors, rear view video camera and/or some type of back up detection device. — Be aware that steep inclines and large SUV’s, vans and trucks add to the difficulty of seeing behind a vehicle. Source: Kids and Cars

You can also get aftermarket cameras and sensors. Consumer Reports recently tested the VR3 from Virtual Reality Video Labs (under $150). The editors say the wireless unit is easy to install. “Its effective enough to be an alternative to factory systems,” they say.

According to Kids and Cars, 60 children were killed last year in frontover accidents. That's more than one child every week.

Many people who know about the rear blind spot back their vehicles into the driveway. They figure they’ll be able to see anything in front of them as they pull forward. But backing into the driveway does not eliminate the danger.

"Some of the vehicles are so large and you're so high off the ground that you can't see little ones in front of the vehicle," Fennell warns.

That’s what happened to 8-year old Douglas Bransom one year ago this week.

"Douglas was the cautious one," his father, Phil Bransom, told me. "He would always ask if he could cross the street."

Douglas was walking home on the sidewalk in a quiet neighborhood in West Linn, Oregon. Phil Bransom thinks his son dropped a toy at the top of a neighbor’s driveway and bent down to pick it up, just as the neighbor was moving his SUV forward.

Douglas was hit and dragged into the street. He died at the scene.

“It happens so fast,” Douglas Bransom’s dad says. “It only takes a second for your life to change forever.”

Phil Bransom says technology alone won't solve this problem. He says people need to know where their children are when they get into their car.

"Just take the time to slow down,” he says. “Take time to think about your child being in or around the car.”

Bransom always walks around his vehicle and looks around for neighborhood kids before getting behind the wheel. He knows what can happen if he doesn’t.

Resources:

• Kids and Cars Website
• Kids and Cars Safety Act of 2007
• The Danger of Blind Spots
• Wireless device that can see where drivers don't
• Blind Zone Measurements
• Blind Zone Measurement: Best and Worst
• Backup Systems

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