By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM parents are being urged to keep a closer eye on their children as 2011 proves to be a horror year for driveway deaths of kids.
Member for the Western Metropolitan Region, Andrew Elsbury, said six children had been killed in the past 18 months across Victoria when they were run over in their family’s own driveway.
The call for greater awareness comes in support of Kidsafe’s Driveway Safety campaign.
“I know we are all in a rush now-adays, but we must stop and think about where the kids are when we’re driving our cars, especially when we’re backing our cars out of ourdriveways.” Mr Elsbury said.
“As a father of two I can think of nothing more devastating than if by my inattentiveness, either of my girls were hurt or worse.”
Mr Elsbury said that according to statistics 85 per cent of parents involved in a fatal driveway incidents were unaware that their child was in the vicinity of the car.
He said that parents should discourage their children from using the driveway as a play area and if they are the only parent at home they should place the children in the car while they are moving it.
“To help us stay alert of the need to keep our driveways Kidsafe I have car stickers for front windshields to remind drivers when they get behind the wheel,” he said.
Residents can get a sticker by calling Mr Elsbury’s office on 9331 7644 or by emailing andrew.elsbury@parliament.vic.gov.au
