| Over a hundred people - mostly children - are | | | | |
| killed and 6,000 are injured yearly by | | | | The irony of it all is that all this is |
| vehicles that are backing up, according to | | | | unnecessary and can be prevented with the use |
| the US National Highway Traffic Safety | | | | of reverse parking sensors or backup sensors. |
| Administration (NHTSA). The editors of | | | | The NHTSA said these devices can prevent |
| Parent magazine said the usual victim is a | | | | accidents in over 90 percent of cases. They |
| two-year-old who is hit by a relative or | | | | sell for about $50 to $450 depending on the |
| family friend backing out of a driveway. | | | | features and beep or talk to you as you get |
| | | | close to an object while backing up. |
| In 1990 alone, the NHTSA said there were | | | | |
| about 182,000 police-reported injuries and | | | | However, not all vehicles have backup sensors |
| 185 fatalities caused by backover accidents. | | | | and not all people are aware of their |
| However, experts believe the figures could be | | | | importance. Of the 17 million new vehicles |
| higher since most deaths are unaccounted for | | | | sold in the United States last year, only |
| or underreported. | | | | 900,000 use them, according to Ward's |
| | | | Communications, an automotive statistics |
| Another reason for this is the current | | | | clearinghouse. |
| popularity of SUVs (sport-utility vehicles) | | | | |
| that have large rear blind spots, making it | | | | "What's going to drive the increase of these |
| difficult if not impossible for the driver to | | | | safety technologies in the marketplace is |
| see what is behind the vehicle. Consumer | | | | consumer demand. The technology will become |
| Reports said some vehicles have rear blind | | | | more and more prevalent as more consumers see |
| spots as deep as 50 feet with large trucks | | | | the utility of it and demand it, and are |
| and vans emerging as the worst offenders. | | | | willing to pay for it.," said Eron Shosteck, |
| | | | spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile |
| This concern was echoed by the US Centers for | | | | Manufacturers. |
| Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which | | | | |
| said that backover accidents pose a | | | | Fortunately, reverse parking sensors are |
| substantial risk for severe injury and death | | | | readily available and easy to install. If |
| to children. Between 2001 and 2003, the CDC | | | | your car doesn't have one, you can get a |
| reported that an estimated 7,475 children | | | | reverse parking sensor kit for a reasonable |
| aged 1 -14 were treated in American emergency | | | | price and be free from costly repairs and |
| departments for backover-related injuries. | | | | backover accidents. This simple solution can |
| Twenty-eight percent of those injuries | | | | save you time, money and more importantly, |
| occurred to the head, face and neck while | | | | lives. Ask your dealer about these |
| over 53 percent occurred in the arms and | | | | life-saving devices today and hit the road |
| legs. | | | | without hitting other people. |