The Automobile Association says the design of some older homes is a factor in tragedies involving children and driveways.
In the second accident of its kind this week, a 21-month-old girl is in Tauranga Hospital with serious head injuries after being run over on the driveway of a kohanga reo at a marae near Waihi Beach yesterday. She is in a serious but non-life threatening condition.
On Monday, two-year-old Isabella Thompson died after being run over in the driveway of her home in Whatawhata, Waikato.
The AA says motorists must check and check again when using driveways. Spokesman Mike Noon says many of the tragedies happen at older houses where the driveway runs alongside the house. He says those homeowners need to be even more aware of children who may be in the area.
Mr Noon says drivers can also make their vehicles safer by fitting extra mirrors or even a camera which is connected to a screen outside. He says the first choice for drivers however, is to always get out of the vehicle to check that the driveway is clear.
