Improving child safety in driveways
On average, six children aged under five years are killed each year in Australia and more than 40 are seriously injured due to being hit by a vehicle moving around the home. Approximately 90% of children killed and 70% of those seriously injured are under five years of age.
In some of these cases accidents have happened as a result of young children entering a garage or driveway from inside a house, without being seen by the vehicle’s driver.
Improved design features in new homes
The ACT Government is looking at options to improve child safety in and around the home by focussing on driveway and garage safety.
The first step is consulting the community about a proposed change to design features of newly constructed houses to help prevent young children entering unsupervised garages, parking spaces and driveways through an internal doorway.
This would require child safety barriers or other mechanisms, such as door handles at least 1.5 metres above the floor, to be installed and would be made mandatory through ACT building laws.
How to have your say
- Complete the short online survey below
- Answer the quick poll on this web page
- Email us a submission via: ConstructionPolicy@act.gov.au
Consultation closes Friday 21 October 2016.
