Out to put the brakes on tragedy
A father who backed over and killed his daughter is campaigning for automatic braking to be made compulsory in cars.
While reversing cameras are designed to save lives, researchers have found they can make drivers complacent and could contribute to more deaths.
Three years ago, Peter Cockburn was reversing his ute when his daughter came from nowhere.
“I felt a bump and straight away I realised something was wrong. So I ran out and then realised it was my little girl, I ran over her by the trailer,” he said.
Georgy died from her injuries, and parents Peter and Emma live with broken hearts.
“It's a thing that will haunt me for the rest of my life. Not only mine, but my wife’s as well,” he said.
Since 2001, 66 children were killed and 483 seriously injured by cars around the home.
In recent years parents have relied on reverse-view camera systems in cars to prevent driveway tragedies, but a new report has since revealed this technology could cause more danger than good.
An interim government report into the safety of reversing cameras has expressed concern that ‘installation of such devices might even contribute to a reduced sense of risk among drivers’.
The research division of NRMA Insurance echoes the government's concerns.
“People start to switch off and start to run on autopilot,” said Robert McDonald from NRMA Insurance.
The NRMA make the point that a camera will only work if a driver is looking at it and paying attention.
“As long as there is a human factor, there is always a risk of complacency.”
Mr Cockburn said: “They don't prevent us from hitting anything, they give us vision behind the vehicle, but we could be looking somewhere else.
Peter and Emma say there is hope that others will not have to suffer their fate in the future with cars designed to brake automatically to add a second line of defence after the rear-facing camera.
If the driver fails to stop, sensors on the car trigger an emergency automatic brake, potentially saving a life.
They are now campaigning for safety legislation which would require all cars to be fitted with this technology to prevent anyone suffering like they have.
“This is the closest system that I can see that will prevent something or somebody actually getting hit,” Peter added.
