Doctors have called for reversing cameras to be fitted to all new cars and for driveways to be fenced off after the latest death of a toddler who was killed by a reversing sports utility vehicle.
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On Friday afternoon, a 20-month-old boy died at Westmead Children's Hospital from head injuries after he walked behind a reversing car in the driveway of his family home in Wahroonga. His mother was reportedly driving the car.
There have been a string of similar tragedies over the past four months, including a three-year-old boy in Charleville, Queensland, a three-year-old girl in Parkes, and a three-year-old boy in Guildford, all during November.
A one-year-old boy was also severely injured after his father reversed over him in Coffs Harbour on October 13.
An average of seven children were killed and 60 injured each year from vehicle accidents around the home, a 2012 report said.
NSW opposition health spokesman Andrew McDonald, a paediatrician, said reversing cars usually rolled over the trunk of the child, causing thoracic trauma. Spinal and head injuries were also common.
Reversing cameras were the best option to prevent serious injury, he said.
''There doesn't appear to be any other shortcut,'' he said. ''Modern vehicles have astoundingly poor sight lines.''
He said it was not realistic to retrospectively fit cameras to all cars, but he called on the federal government to move towards having cameras in all new cars.
The cost of retrofitting a reversing camera begins at about $550.
NSW president of the Australian Medical AssociationBrian Owler advised parents to walk around the vehicle and check for children before driving, use reversing cameras and keep tabs on children at all times.
Both Dr McDonald and Dr Owler also said that the design of a property could put children at risk, listing backyard carports and driveways without fences as danger zones.
NRMA Insurance research manager Robert McDonald said blind spots on SUVs were no worse than sedans and other vehicles but SUVs were often involved in these accidents because they were a common family car.
Cars with cameras were rated as having the best reversing safety in the latest NRMA Insurance Reversing Visibility Index figures.
But Mr McDonald said mandating cameras was not the way to go.
''I worry about legislating technology because it evolves so quickly,'' he said. ''By the time you got them in, they might be old hat. They're a great tool but you can't replace driver awareness.''
Dr McDonald said driveway accidents could happen to any family.
''These families have been distracted for a split second, and now it will be with them for the rest of their life,'' he said.
