Inquest probes 4WD safety near schools

Now its a design flaw

Death crash inquest told of 4WD design flaw
By Geesche Jacobsen
May 16, 2005 - 12:36PM

The driver of a four-wheel-drive vehicle that struck and killed a five year-old girl would have had limited vision, a coronial inquest has heard.

Bethany Holder died after she was hit by a Nissan Patrol trying to park in the grounds of Pittwater House School, Collaroy, in July 2002.

A crash investigator told the court today the driver might have had trouble seeing the girl because of the design of the car and the design of the school grounds. Bethany was only 102 centimetres tall.

The inquest continues in Glebe Coroners Court.

AAP reports: Senior Deputy state coroner Jacqueline Milledge stressed that the inquest was an inquiry into the safety of four-wheel-drives in school areas, not into the guilt of the driver of the vehicle, Ms Joan Waterhouse.

In 2003 Ms Waterhouse was sentenced to 250 hours' community service and had her licence suspended for three years.

Senior constable Aaron Kraefft told the inquest no car other than staff vehicles should be allowed on school grounds.

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Advertisement"In my opinion, from doing this job, I really don't think vehicles other than staff vehicles should be allowed on school grounds," he said.

Wonder if the same could be said about cars as well. When I worked in the Qld Education Dept. here where I live, our policy was, no vehicles were allowed in the school grounds apart from the Groundspersons work vehicle.

Although the media headlines were targetting the 4wd factor, the coroner's recommendations were not actually along the typical "anti 4wd" carry on.
As already mentioned the main bit was about seperating kids from traffic. In this case they also proved that the driver could not see the child because of the car design.
So really if thats the case its exactly what I think should happen. Do a proper investigation and make recommendations to prevent a reoccurance. If it means car manufacturers are pressured to improve or include safety considerations such as reversing cameras, over the bonnet and rear vision , steps to protect others - it can only be a good thing.

Its amazing how there was no iquest into commodores after one went through the round house child care center.

That was 'just an accident'. If it was a 4wd then they would be off the road by now.

I agree that there should be no need to mix kids with traffic, be it with motor bikes through to trucks making deliveries, or commodores driven by the elderly.

machines dont kill people, people and their attitudes do.

Our school resorted to painting a section on both sides of the crossing red, and the teachers would stand outside every morning and afternoon, and shame people that didn't comply, even parents would comment to those who park in that area.

It's such a huge "Oh, my god how embarassing to be seen parked in the red area" thing now, I can't remember the last time I saw someone attempt it!!! Some mothers glares can strike you dead.

But what really gets me irate, is the delivery driver & Rubbish truck driver that often not only drive too fast, but drive the wrong way through a one way area, and the rubbish truck is often in the morning when the kids are arriving.

My other hate while I'm on the soapbox, it seeing a mother with a car full of kids in a different school uniform to ours speeding through the 40km zone, or failing to stop at the crossing.

I'm finished everyone have a great day,

Sandy

Many vehicles have blind areas. Our Falcon has a very steep front windscreen and the A frame obscures the front quarter. The inside rear vision mirror blocks the view of the road ahead for taller drivers and the rear quarters are hard to see.

Yet Falcons have better driver's view than many cars on the rosd.

The subject accident became likely because a vehicle was on school grounds during school hours. This is usual in many schools and some also have buses on site. However, driver error was the cause.

If vehicles MUST be on site, then they must be fenced from areas frequented by students. Same as at home, if kids can get near moving vehicles then an accident is on the cards.

I regularly see near misses outside the schools my children go to. Most are caused by people in a hurry. People do not seem to comprehend the normal limitations of children. Even with police present, some drivers will bully small children trying to cross the road and yes, mothers and fourwheel drives are involved. Go figure!

We need some lateral thinking to solve the problem, but in the interim hefty fines could help to control the selfish, bullying types..

EV700

Why dont people just ask someone to watch for them while they back out. If you were reversing a truck out of there you'd do it. I do so in my hilux (which is higher than most) if there are little people around. People are just too proud I think.

B

What a tragedy for the family of the little girl and the driver of the vehicle.

My question is where was the guardian of the 5 year old (it was on a high school grounds I believe) And I assume the mother parked in a car park unloaded the child and let her out of her sight.

Sorry but if everyone had done their part Guardian looked after child, driver exercised greater care given they are in school ground and there are kids around then this would never have happened.

4WD who cares what she was driving it is about exerting care and obligation not about the car you drive.

Just my thoughts
Trevor

First off ...the loss of any child is a tragedy.
In this case it is not a matter that a 4wd was involved or not. It could have be any car, or even a delivery truck. This happened within the school grounds! The reason this will go further is because of the school's responcibility ... Duty of care! This comes into effect once inside the school's property boundries. IMHO no private vehicles should be allowed on school property, other than teachers vehicles and service vehicles, and these should have security access and be in a restricted area where no children are permited. If this was in place ...maybe those parents who I witness, "drop and run" may have to exercise more care.
Regards,
Bazza.

and here is the recommendation.

and here is the recommendation from the inquiry.

I hate to point out to the coroner that our 2000 model coralla has more blind spots than a closing time drunk.and a nissan rates better than a commodore.

All boundaries of the school should become drop and go zones policed by video cameras and the school constables could write tickets off the tapes.

Parents would also pay to have stict control over their kids when vehicles are moving be it in the home driveway supermarket carparks or schools / sports grounds.

I hope I've stuffed up somewhere....
The report: "run over by a four-wheel drive Nissan Patrol inside the grounds of Pittwater High School"
The inquest findings: "Four-wheel-drive vehicles should be banned from stopping within 200 metres of schoolyards with primary and infant students, the Deputy State Coroner has recommended, following an inquest into the safety of the vehicles on school grounds."

So the injury happens at a high school and the inquest proposes a solution for primary schools?
Gee its a good thing both parties had to go through the traumatic events all over again to reach that conclusion.