Shocking dashcam footage has emerged of an Australian boy being hit by a car as he ran across the road -- renewing calls for parents to ensure children are vigilant about crossing roads.
The video, which was posted by Dashcam Owners Australia, shows the young boy running onto a suburban road, right into an oncoming car. He is briefly airborne before falling onto the road.
Luckily, within moments, he gets back up on his feet and turns towards the driver, waving to let him known he is unharmed.
The driver wrote: “Please kids don’t run out onto the road, this scared the crap out of us, but thankfully he’s OK.”
Parents who have seen the video have commented with reminders to other parents to make sure children are aware of the dangers of the road.
“They need to show this video to the kid’s parents and hopefully they can educate him on the dangers of crossing the road if he hasn’t already learnt. The kid was extremely lucky he got off lightly that time.”
The Australian Medical Association has issued a reminder to parents to ensure children are very careful on the roads, particularly during the Christmas/new Year period. AMA President Professor Brian Owler said the tragic reality is hospital emergency departments see too many victims of avoidable road accidents over the festive season.
“Pedestrians, cyclists and anyone travelling on our roads need to be aware that the holiday season is a time of heightened risk. The holiday season sees more people on the road on their way to parties, holidays, and family get-togethers, so the risk to drivers, riders, passengers, and pedestrians is greater than normal. Carefully planning trips and safer driving could mean the difference between a family outing and a family tragedy,” Owler said.
“Every holiday season, too many Australians experience road trauma or lose their lives on roads. Anyone travelling long distance over the holiday period should take their time, have regular breaks, and don’t drive if they’re feeling tired. Carefully planning trips and safer driving could mean the difference between a family outing and a family tragedy. If you’re a passenger and you think the driver is tired, driving too fast, or being distracted, assist them in making the right decision.”
“All road users must be aware of their behaviour, obey the road rules, and most importantly, don’t rush."
AMA tips for safer road travel:
- Allow extra time when travelling on major or busy roads.
- Be extra cautious on roads that you are not familiar with.
- Drive to the weather conditions -- with extended periods of heat or rain, road conditions can change.
- Make sure your vehicle is in good working order, and always check tyre pressure, water, and oil.
- If you’re driving a 4WD, always exercise caution and responsibility when driving ‘off road’.
- Never respond to text messages, and it is safest not to use your mobile phone when driving, even as ‘hands free’.
- Don’t drive defensively, or engage in threatening or aggressive road rage behaviour.
- Take regular breaks and, if possible, rotate driving, and don’t drive for extended periods.
- Don’t rush -- make sure you have plenty of time to get to your destination.