Preventing Backovers

Every week in the United States at least fifty children are victims of backovers. Most of these victims are one year olds. (Oh my heart! I have a one year old!) In 70% of these accidents, the drivers are relatives of the children.

 That's one of the reasons why I am enjoying the reverse camera on the Odyssey so much.



While it is estimated that 100 deaths and more than 8,300 injuries will be prevented each year due to cars having reverse cameras, it doesn't make up for the smartest safety feature in each car: THE DRIVER.

KidsAndCars.org recommendations to keep children safe include:

• Walk around and behind a vehicle prior to moving it.
• Know where your kids are. Make children move away from your vehicle to a place where they are in full view before moving the car and know that another adult is properly supervising children before moving your vehicle.
• Teach children that “parked” vehicles might move. Let them know that they can see the vehicle; but the driver might not be able to see them.
• Consider installing cross view mirrors, audible collision detectors, rear view video camera and/or some type of back up detection device.
• Measure the size of your blind zone (area) behind the vehicle(s) you drive. A 5-foot-1-inch driver in a pickup truck can have a rear blind zone of approximately 8 feet wide by 50 feet long.
• Be aware that steep inclines and large SUV’s, vans and trucks add to the difficulty of seeing behind a vehicle.
• Hold children’s hand when leaving the vehicle.
• Teach your children to never play in, around or behind a vehicle and always set the emergency brake.
• Keep toys and other sports equipment off the driveway.
• Homeowners should trim landscaping around the driveway to ensure they can see the sidewalk, street and pedestrians clearly when backing out of their driveway. Pedestrians also need to be able to see a vehicle pulling out of the driveway.
• Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute.
• Keep vehicles locked at all times; even in the garage or driveway.
• Keys and/or remote openers should never be left within reach of children.
• Make sure all child passengers have left the car after it is parked.
• Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays.

  These precautions can save lives. For additional information visit www.KidsAndCars.org

Follow Lindsey Redfern of The R House as she falls in love with the 2014 Honda Odyssey. A reformed SUV enthusiast, she has seen the light and is passing her excitement onto you in the form of really sweet deals. Get all the details on how she can save you $500 on a new, used, lease or trade in at Ken Garff Honda of Orem. 

Honda's Got Your Back(up Camera)

No question, one of my favorite features in the 2013 Odyssey is the backup camera--which is now standard on all Odysseys.

As Cars.com explained, "Previously, a backup camera was only available on the EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite trims.  For 2013, the Pilot, Accord, Crosstour, CR-Z and Ridgeline also get a standard backup camera."

I have probably mentioned that I have five kids.  And my neighbors all have kids.  In fact, if you include mine, there are 18 kids that live on my cul-de-sac, not including friends, grandkids, etc.  Backing up is one of THE most dangerous maneuvers I do with my car each day.

Before backing out, I walk around my car, turn off my radio and the fan (AC/heat), roll down my front windows and back out really, really slowly.  But backing up with a backup camera is so much safer!  You can see where you're going and what's to the sides of you as well.

Despite my copious backing-up safety rituals, I have, on more than one occasion, pulled into the road only to realize that there was a child, just to the side of my driveway that I hadn't seen.  That has freaked me out every time.  (Shivering)

So I really put the 2013 Odyssey's back up camera to the test when I got to take it for a spin.  After pulling in my driveway, I grabbed a little 12 inch bike that we own and stuck it behind the van and put it in reverse.

I could not see the tiny bike from my rear-view mirror or either of my side mirrors.  In my daily ritual, only during the walk-around could I have even seen it.  But look what happens when you turn on the backup camera.

Regular View

Wide View

Top View

These picture were taken in the early afternoon with light filtering through the trees, making it even more difficult to see.  Even without ideal viewing conditions, I could easily see the bike.  Then, I could walk around and remove it before running over it.  (It's possible that I have *uh-hem* run over a few bikes in my day...)

To be candid, the backup camera is NOT designed to replace the walk-around.  You could still have a child or toy under you vehicle or directly behind the wheels.  But the scares I've had over the years with kids who appeared at the last minute would never have happened.  With the backup camera I would always have seen them.  And as a parent, that's incredibly reassuring.