Toyota announces safety research center in Ann Arbor

I am so happy to hear that Toyota is taking the step to collaborate with Universities, Hospitals and Government Agencies to improve driver safety! There are so many accidents that have destroyed the lives of individuals that NEVER had to happen!

One heartbreaking example, the three year old son of my friend was killed bc of the infamous BLIND SPOT. A family member was backing up while her adorable son was running out to say goodbye and he was accidentally run over and killed. She and her husband will never be the same.

This devastating accident led her to lobby for child safety technology in the car industry. At least 50 children are backed over every week in the U.S. Forty-eight are treated in hospital emergency rooms and at least 2 children die. Between 2002 and 2007, almost half of the over 1,100 non-traffic fatalities that involved children were a result of backover accidents.

Here are some suggestions for preventing needless accidents:

Walk around your car before starting it; Teach your children to never play in, around or behind a car; Keep toys off the driveway; Ensure pets are kept in an area that does not allow them to roam into the paths of vehicles, or at least train your pet not to sleep or stay on the driveway; Do not leave children alone in or around your car; Keep vehicles locked and the keys out of the reach of children; And make sure all children have left the car after it is parked.

One thought on “Toyota announces safety research center in Ann Arbor”

Marisa SungPost author

January 8, 2011 at 5:01 pm

I am so happy to hear that Toyota is taking the step to collaborate with Universities, Hospitals and Government Agencies to improve driver safety! There are so many accidents that have destroyed the lives of individuals that NEVER had to happen!

One heartbreaking example, the three year old son of my friend was killed bc of the infamous BLIND SPOT. A family member was backing up while her adorable son was running out to say goodbye and he was accidentally run over and killed. She and her husband will never be the same.

This devastating accident led her to lobby for child safety technology in the car industry. At least 50 children are backed over every week in the U.S. Forty-eight are treated in hospital emergency rooms and at least 2 children die. Between 2002 and 2007, almost half of the over 1,100 non-traffic fatalities that involved children were a result of backover accidents.

Here are some suggestions for preventing needless accidents:

Walk around your car before starting it; Teach your children to never play in, around or behind a car; Keep toys off the driveway; Ensure pets are kept in an area that does not allow them to roam into the paths of vehicles, or at least train your pet not to sleep or stay on the driveway; Do not leave children alone in or around your car; Keep vehicles locked and the keys out of the reach of children; And make sure all children have left the car after it is parked.