Deaths in Driveways

At work we have to have someone spot us while we reverse, it's part of our reg's. It's also better as they can see if there is going to be any chance of hitting something/someone. At our BFB station, we make all drivers check under the duals for kids before driving out of the shed, as we are quite a family friendly brigade, always kids about. I think most cars should have at least a reversing buzzer, and maybe a camera. I've got a camera on my S3 109, and it's ok, they are fairly cheap these days, around $350.00, including screen, cheap, considering what could happen. Thats my two cents.

I was actually ran over the other day in a driveway. I was delivering mail and as I rode into the driveway I saw a small sedan reversing at speed towards me, I paddled backwards as fast as I could but he hit my front wheel knocking my bike down. He seemed most surprised but as he had a 6" brick fence I thought he would realise the potential danger. Maybe he does now.

Jeff

:rocket:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by solmanic

Where possible, I also try to reverse into parking spaces and driveways - on the driver's side too. This means I can scope out the space beforehand and whilst reversing I have a clear view of where I'm going in the nearside mirror. When I leave, I also have less risk because I always drive off forwards.

Just a couple of little things, but they help avoid other little things.

---

I'm with Solmanic here.

When I first bought my house, my driveway was separated from that of my neighbours by a 5ft fence. Their daughter was 7yo at the time. I decied that the only safe thing to do was to reverse into my driveway. Like Solmanic, I (almost) always reverse into parking spaces.

I'm another that always tries to reverse park but sometimes in shopping centres if you try that some tosser will be in front first before you've selected reverse!
At home I rarely do anything but reverse park as it's much safer entering the road when you can see the local loonies speeding up and down the road towards you.
The cook was almost knocked over when taking the grand kids for a walk one evening when the people just down the road jumped straight into the car, started and into gear and back at a fair rate of knots all without so much as a glance to see if anything/anybody was around.
The police advised her that pathways were a "grey" area in the road rules and all precautions must be taken.
I would have thought 3 people walking past would have been easily spotted by the idiot driving the car but as most don't seem to look until they're at the roads edge (and then it's only a quick glance) that's obviously not enough.
How some of these turkeys get a licence I don't know, how they keep them is obvious when the local law are only interested in speeding offences especially minor offences.
I just hope I never knock a kiddy over but if I do it won't be because I haven't looked.
Alan H.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ATH

....The cook was almost knocked over when taking the grand kids for a walk one evening when the people just down the road jumped straight into the car, started and into gear and back at a fair rate of knots all without so much as a glance to see if anything/anybody was around.
The police advised her that pathways were a "grey" area in the road rules and all precautions must be taken. ...

---

Alan

I would have thought that a footpath is in no way a grey area, it is the same as a pedestrian crossing. pedestrians have an unambiguous right of way.

The Police were being lazy and just thought it wasn't worth a ticket. Like lots of things, they would have to book the driver for negligent driving which would be contested and they would have to spend a wasted day at court on top of all the paperwork.

Great way to run a legal system. :mad:

Diana

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bushwanderer

Like Solmanic, I (almost) always reverse into parking spaces.

---

It also helps with quick getaways when the in-laws descend.:burnrubber:

A guy worked with in the early 1990s is one of the 'perpetrators' of those 'statistics'.

Ran over a neighbours child...

Backing out of the drive (in a Volvo 240 wagon, not a 4wd), on the way to church...early as he was one of those who help at the 'church' and turned up real early...

i'm not joking...

his street in a leafy nth shore of syd syburb was wrecked by this catastrophy...

his street was (were) all 'palsy walsy' until that happened...

he's never been the same since...
wrecked his family, lost his job as he sought solace in the grog (the 'church' were no help),
the victim family next door were catatonic,

ostracised (to and/or by) the rest of the neighbours...

i still wonder why the (then and dead) 4 year old was wandering the streets of wahroonga at 0600 on a dark wintery sunday morning...

yes he was at fault, he reversed a car over a child, he's rooted, she's dead, he's mentally not here anymore, his family went to pieces, her family sued, such a mess......

his kids (all supposed high achievers at numerous activities) had innumerous 'issues' following this, wife departed, house flogged, neighbours moved out....

one small mistake cost maybe 50 people...

i still wonder why that child was where it was....

hmmmm...

GQ

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tombraider

Yeah, I run a rear camera... No hiding behind my Disco....

And, no, having the death of ANYONE on your conscience is not a nice thing to have....

---

I have two on mine.
Handy for backing up to anything, mainly in my case, a Caravan.

This is what I see from my viewer.
http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/cam_0.jpg

When I flick the switch to the lower camera, I see this.
http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/cam_1.jpg

Actual view
http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/cam_2.jpg

Camera position
http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/cam_3.jpg

Side view of cameras.
http://memweb.newsguy.com/~mcgrice/cam_4.jpg

Very easy and cheap to do. Monitor came from Strathfield Car Radios $189.00, cameras from E-bay $95.00 for both.

Cheers

Hi Ron, that is a great setup there, very responsible and helpful too with caravans and trailers etc. Good one. I've got a similar set up, as we have a four year old that 'loves daddy's Landy', and is always wanting to get inside. I always wait for the wife to physically hang onto her, whilst I'm reversing out for work. Unfortunately we have a steep uphill drive, and can't reverse in, but as you say, I always reverse park into a car-spot. Take care, Ben.:)

Cameras are great but unless you train yourself to look you won't look at the screen anymore than you will check any other way