It's summer which means your kids, families and neighborhoods are likely buzzing with activity. Kids are playing outside and summer weekends and holidays are full of parties, vacations and tons of fun. Unfortunately, this is also the most common time for accidents.

The terms backover and frontover refer to when an infant or child is accidentally rolled over by a moving vehicle in a driveway or parking lot. Though this may seem like a rare occurrence, it happens regularly. In fact, in the warm weather months, a Utah child is run over in a driveway or parking lot every seven days. 

• The most common victim age is one year old  and children under five are at the most risk. 
• Trucks, vans and SUVs have the worst front and rear visibility.
• Mid-morning or late afternoon are when the most accidents happen.
• Most accidents occur when a parent or guardian is driving.

These accidents are tragic and can happen to anyone, but are preventable by taking a few precautions - and only a few seconds.

Tips to Prevent Backovers and Frontovers

Reduce blind spots: 

• Make sure side and rear mirrors are always properly adjusted. 
• Adjust your driver's seat as high as needed to see clearly out the rear window. 
• Have a backup camera? Great! But remember: even backup cameras have blindspots. 

Spot the Tot:

It's important to teach your children not to play in, under or around vehicles. Make sure you know where all of your children are before you start to drive away, but with a full  house - or a full neighborhood - you can never assume that everyone is out of harm's way. Every driver should follow these simple steps before leaving a driveway or parking lot:

3 Steps to Spot the Tot

To prevent backovers and frontovers, always remember to:

1. Walk Around Vehicle

Take 10 seconds to ensure the area is clear by walking all the around your vehicle before getting in the driver's seat. 

2. Listen & Be Aware

Turn down your radio, roll down your windows and actively listen to what's happening outside your vehicle. 

3. Eliminate Distractions

Put your phone in your purse or pocket before heading out and leave it out of sight once you're in the car. Turn down your radio and stop conversations as you prepare to leave your parking spot. 

Learn more about our Spot the Tot program at primarychildrens.org/SpotTheTot and check out our infographic for more information!