Media Release

Attention: News editors - 26 April 2006

Children at risk inside and outside cars – US expert

Children are regularly strangled by automatic windows and backed into by drivers who have restricted rear vision, US consumer advocate Ms Sally Greenberg will tell a Monash University Accident Research Centre seminar on Thursday 27 April.

Ms Greenberg says technology that is already available can easily prevent many deaths and injuries in Australia and the US every year.

But modifications to vehicles are not being made because it is not seen as a priority, Ms Greenberg, senior product safety counsel for the Consumers Union, says.

“We know we have a major problem in America – 91 children died in 2003 alone after they were backed over - but there is also a serious problem in Australia,” she says.

While the popularity of 4WDs had worsened the problem in recent years, some sedans also rate poorly in tests, Ms Greenberg says.

Figures from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (based at the Monash University Accident Research Centre) showed 22 children – mostly under four – were hospitalised in Victoria after driveway run-overs between 2002 and 2004. It is estimated that one child a month dies in Australia from a driveway accident.

“It usually happens when a child runs out to say goodbye to their mother or father or to see what they’re doing, but the parent doesn’t see them until it’s too late,” Ms Greenberg says. “They are tragic – but they are avoidable.”

Power window strangulation injuries are also of growing concern. In such cases, children accidentally knock or play with the r ocker- and toggle-style switches that operate windows, then became stuck as they lean out - sometimes with fatal results, she says.

“There are so many road and vehicle safety issues, yet these are ones that can be so easily solved by technology within our grasp,” she says. “We need to address them immediately by making it mandatory for new vehicles to have safety equipment fitted.”

Ms Greenberg says reverse cameras are the best solution to the driveway problem while lever switches that need to be physically raised and auto-reverse technology that ensures windows do not close onto an object are the key to eliminating strangulation.

Ms Greenberg will present a seminar on the subject on Thursday, 27 April at 1pm at the Monash University Accident Research Centre, Building 70, Clayton campus.

Media are welcome to attend but please advise Ms Allison Harding at MUARC Media Communications in advance on 9905 1255 or 0419 302 520.

Ms Sally Greenberg is available for interview on 0423 923 137.