ROAD SAFETY RESEARCH, POLICING AND EDUCATION CONFERENCE, NOV 2001

We investigated a range of vehicle-related countermeasures to reduce the risk of young children being killed or injured by reversing motor vehicles, particularly those on private driveways.

There is a scarcity of information about the rearward field of view from motor vehicles and methods of improving this view. Theoretical analysis and trials of a range of vehicles, proximity sensors (parking aids) and visual aids were therefore conducted. These revealed the following: (a) most cars and 4WDs have very poor rearward visibility for detecting objects the size of toddlers; (b) proximity sensors alone cannot provide sufficient warning to drivers that a toddler is in the path of a reversing vehicle; (c) 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; and (d) a combination of a video camera and a short-range proximity sensor would cover all critical blind spots at the rear of the vehicle.