Recent statistics show that over 1200 toddlers are seriously injured or killed each year after being hit by an automobile in a driveway or parking area. The goal of this article is to give parents practical advice to increase parking area safety for their toddlers.

Teach your Toddler not to Play Near Parked Cars

Parked cars may seems like a relatively secure place to a toddler. The problem is that toddlers are so small a driver may not see the toddler playing near the car when they pull out of a parking spot. Teaching your toddler that it is not a good idea to play near any cars is a good way to avoid these types of accidents.

Do a Visual Check Before Backing out of Your Driveway

By doing a quick visual inspection of all sides of your vehicle before leaving your parking spot, you can ensure the area is clear of toddlers, toys or even animals. This quick check will not only keep your toddler safe but also give you peace of mind that another child from the area has not wandered behind your vehicle.

Teach your Toddler to Look Both Ways when Crossing Driveway Crossings

We generally teach our children to stay on the sidewalk and out of the street for safety. One important exception to this is when the sidewalk crosses a driveway. Teaching your child to look both ways when crossing a driveway (just like crossing a street) will also reduce the likelihood of being struck by a vehicle

Talk to your Toddler About the Basic of Car Safety

Toddlers have learned that they can trust "big people" to keep them safe and to look out for their well being. It is not too much of a stretch to imagine that toddlers would think an adult behind the wheel of a vehicle will automatically stop for them. This is a dangerous assumption so it is important to talk to your toddler about the basics of car safety. Teach them that if they are too close to a car, the driver cannot see them. Also, that if they cannot see the driver of the car then the driver cannot see them.

No amount of teaching or education is as fool proof as solid adult supervision. Do not allow your toddler to play in driveways or parking lots. When walking in parking lots, be sure to hold your toddler's hand to keep them close to you.