Young resident, low-speed vehicle run over awareness advocates and Georgina Josephine Foundation founders Emma and Peter Cockburn have lived through a similar tragedy and want everyone to be reminded of the importance of taking a few extra steps to prevent others from happening. 

Emma Cockburn writes:

In light of the recent local tragedy at Cootamundra, where another little boy has lost his life due to an accidental Low Speed Vehicle Run Over, we are reminded of how painful that loss can be – our thoughts are with the family involved – and also of how it is so important to be wary around vehicles at all times.

On the April 16, 2011, our world was changed forever in an instant, when daddy came home from work - like he did every other day - reversed the tool trailer and ute into the garage, and accidentally ran over our youngest of four beautiful little girls, Georgina.

The effect was instant, and we lost our baby girl on the spot.

We had thought, like any other parent, that our kids were safe in their own home.

We had deliberately built our house with kids in mind – play areas at one end of the house, garage at the other, a safe fenced-off backyard area where they could play, well away from the garage and driveway.

It never occurred to us that the access door between the house and garage would be an issue.

Standard building practice as we knew, running our own residential building business was to have all internal door handles at a height of 900 mm from the floor.

If only we had known ahead of time about installing a self-closer, and placing the door handle higher up out of a toddler’s reach.

Every day we get into our cars without a second thought to take the kids to daycare, school, swimming lessons, soccer, go shopping for groceries, or to get to work and home again.

Every time we get into our cars without that second thought is an occasion where an accident could occur unexpectedly.

In Australia, approximately 60 children are severely injured, and at least six or seven die every year because of Low Speed Vehicle Run Over (LSVRO) accidents.

In our rushed everyday world we are distracted by phones, emails, thoughts of work, or simply the mountain of chores we have to get done once we’ve got the bigger kids to school.

Even without those distractions, we may think we know where our kids are, then in a flash, they are gone, as they move so quickly. Low Speed Vehicle Run Over accidents can happen in a matter of seconds.

However, simple measures may help prevent these tragic consequences.

The key words to remember are supervise, separate, see.

Children are unpredictable, so close, active supervision by the adults around them is the best protection.

Active supervision means being there with children when getting into or out of cars, when seeing visitors off.

It means physically checking where the kids are when a vehicle is moving on, off or around your property.

Teach children that cars are not toys, and we shouldn’t play in or around them.

Treat the driveway like a road- would you let your children play on the road?

Set up a system so that everyone knows where the kids are when coming and going - for example: ‘I know Mum’s due home from work in a minute, I’ll just check where everyone is and make sure they are together inside.’

Separating children from where vehicles are can help prevent Low Speed Vehicle Run Over accidents.

As parents, we are human and cannot be everywhere at once, especially when we have more than one child to chase after. 

So, we ask that people look at their own home environments and consider:

If there is a locked door or gate, or fence or wall between a car and a child there is less chance of an accident happening.

Make a habit of taking the long way around to the driver’s door, before getting in to drive your vehicle, to check if anyone or anything is there.

Accidents can happen when the vehicle moves forward as well as in reverse.

Remember that reversing cameras and sensors are great tools but they will not stop an accident happening.

We always need to:

Remember - kids are quick - no technology is a replacement for an alert driver.

These measures are appropriate not just in our own homes, but anywhere you take your children.

Talk with your family and friends – and any babysitters - so that everyone is on the same page when it comes to vehicles and your children.

How will you get the adults in your children’s lives to help you put ‘Supervise, Separate, See’ into action at your place and theirs?

The Georgina Josephine Foundation aims to promote awareness of low speed vehicle run over prevention measures, and to support families affected by such accidents.

Dealing the aftermath of a Low Speed Vehicle Run Over can be devastating for all involved, so if you, or someone you know has been affected by such an incident and needs support, please contact us on 02 6382 6930, via our website www.gjfoundation.com.au or message us through our Facebook page.

Late last year the the Cockburn’s used their tragedy to make a huge and positive impact on the lives of Year 10 students from Young High School with their Georgina Josephine driver awareness demonstration.

Year 10 students were confronted with the realities of being behind the wheel of a car when Peter and Emma demonstrated to them just how much they can miss when they’re driving.

While taking turns sitting in the driver’s seat, with their classmates either sitting behind or standing around the car, the students were shocked by the size and the number of blind spots in the vehicle, however they now feel they have a better understanding of safety awareness around the car for themselves and for others.

For further information contact the Georgina Josephine Foundation on 02 6382 6930 or go to the website www.gjfoundation.com.au or search for the Georgina Josephine foundation on Facebook.