Cameron Guibransen Kids and Cars Transportation Safety Act

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than four thousand pedestrians were killed and another 69,000 were injured as a result of vehicle accidents in 2008. Based on these numbers, a pedestrian suffers a crash-related death every two hours or is injured every eight minutes. Nearly one in five of these human losses are small children. As a result, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Transportation Safety Act was signed into law in February 2008. But, only recently has the impact of that law become apparent.

The Act was inspired by a series of tragic accidents involving pedestrian children, the most publicized involved two year old Cameron Gulbransen. The blond haired two year old was a loving child, adored by his brother and parents. On October 2002, Cameron excited sat with his parents, who had returned home late one night. His father, a prominent doctor, went outside to repark their SUV. As his father backed into the driveway, he noticed a bump. Jumping out of the car, Dr. Gulbransen, a pediatrician, found his little boy lying on the ground bleeding. Cameron had been run over by the SUV by accident.

Dr. Gulbransen's story is not so unfamiliar to others, who suffered similar losses. It's estimated that each day a small child is killed in a non-traffic related accidents. According to the NHTSA, the numbers are concerning given the fact that many of the victims are children under the age of 4. When driving, blind spots are pretty apparent, but just as they exist on our nation's roadways, they exist in our neighborhoods, driveways and parking lots. Larger vehicles present greater problems and so, the need for driver awareness is so much more important.

The not so new legislation directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to undertake two tasks. The first task is to issue new safety standards that require installation of safety technologies as standard equipment in all vehicles to prevent deaths and injuries in and around motor vehicles. The second task is to promote awareness and education drivers, especially parents, about child safety With new technology and driver awareness, roads will be safer for the more vulnerable members of our society.

Often in our nation, devastating loss prompts action and the need for change. Guibransen and other parents pressed their Congressmen for stricter laws and safeguards to reduce the risk of children falling victim to these types of accidents. In time, safety agencies, including the NHTSA believe that the KT Safety Act can save hundreds of children and give parents more piece of mind.

Sources:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/PR/NHTSA-17-10
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-694
http://www.kidsandcars.org/incidents/camerons_story.htm