These tragedies occur when a driver, often a parent or close family member, unknowingly strikes a child who is in a vehicle’s blindzone while pulling forward or backing up. Most incidents happen in driveways, parking lots, and other off-roadway areas where children are expected to be safe. Children age 5 and under are the most at-risk due to their small size and limited cognitive ability to understand danger.

The recent deaths come as America’s vehicle fleet continues to grow larger. Today, approximately 80% of new vehicles sold in the United States are SUVs, pickups, and other large vehicles, creating larger blindzones around vehicles and making it increasingly difficult for drivers to see small children in front, on the side and behind vehicles.

“Ten children gone in just eighteen days is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” said Amber Rollins, Executive Director of Kids and Car Safety. “Parents are doing what they’ve done for generations—backing out of driveways, pulling into parking spaces, moving vehicles a few feet—and in an instant their lives are changed forever. As vehicles continue to get larger and taller, the danger to children who cannot be seen around these vehicles continues to grow. You cannot avoid hitting something you cannot see.”

The incidents are as follows:

While rearview cameras have helped reduce backover incidents, children continue to be struck both behind and in front of vehicles every week. Safety advocates stress that technology alone is not enough and that increased awareness, improved vehicle design, and additional detection technologies are needed to prevent these tragedies.

Kids and Car Safety recommends that drivers:

• Safeguard doors leading to outside in your home with childproof doorknob covers and stick on alarms to prevent young children from leaving the home unnoticed
• Walk completely around their vehicle before moving it and scan the area for children.
• Always know where children are before getting behind the wheel.
• Carry young children, use strollers or hold young children’s hands in parking lots and driveways.
• Ensure direct supervision of all children anytime someone is leaving or expected to arrive at home.
• Utilize available vehicle safety technologies, but never rely on them exclusively.
• If your vehicle does not have a rearview camera, one can be installed aftermarket.

“Every one of these children had a future,” Rollins said. “These are not freak accidents. They are predictable, preventable events, and we have the knowledge and technology to stop them.”