Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Reverse In, Drive Out: Mayo County Council warns of car reversing dangers

Seven people have died in the past number of years from cars reversing out of parking spaces according to the council.

DO YOU REVERSE into your driveway or into parking spaces at work? It’s far safer according to Mayo County Council who want to get people into the habit of doing every time they park their car.

Ahead of Irish Road Safety week next week the local council wants people to be aware of the problem of limited rear vision and the danger it poses, especially to children.

The council says that the tragedy can be even greater in cases where there is a child fatality as a result of reversing because most of these cases occur in the family driveway with a member of the family behind the wheel.

Seven people were killed between 2007 and 2011 by reversing cars according to Mayo County Council with 348 people injured during the same period. Reversing was involved in 11 per cent  of all fatal workplace transport accidents they say.

Modern cars are designed to have fantastic forward vision, but they also have large blind spots when people try to look to the rear according to Road Safety Officer Noel Gibbons. He wants people to ‘Reverse-in, Drive out’:

You hear so much about young children who are injured when parents are backing out of driveways. We want it so that once people are in their cars they are looking straight ahead. If people can develop it as a way of life. Just like putting on a seat-belt we want to get them used to reversing into the drive.

The council says that it feels that if a person gets into the habit of reversing into their parking space in work it will lead to motorists doing the same in their homes.

Read: A broken speedometer, a dying cow and a swarm of bees – how some people avoided penalty points >

Read: Garda escort bikes out of action for two months >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
42 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds