Parking lots are one of the most dangerous places young children encounter, and yet families find themselves having to navigate parking lots on a daily basis as they get their children to school, go grocery shopping, attend religious services and move throughout the community. According to statistics, an average of 50 children per week are injured by being backed over in a parking lot or driveway. Despite the increasing prevalence of back-up cameras in vehicles, parking lots remain dangerous for families due to:

• Driver distraction (looking for a perfect spot or other in-vehicle distractions)
• Blind zones created by neighboring vehicles with a higher profile
• Reckless drivers
• Parking lot congestion (both pedestrian and vehicular)

While all children are at risk in parking lots, children with special needs can be even more vulnerable due to issues such as limited impulse control, difficulty understanding consequences, processing delays, limited vision or mobility challenges.

Connecting for Kids encourages all families to have a conversation about the best ways to keep children safe in parking lots and driveways. To assist in this process, the following resources are available:

• Teach Your Child How to be a Parking Lot Safety S.T.A.R.
• Parking Lot Safety Social Story

IMPORTANT: Resources on this website are provided for your information only and do not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any clinical or therapeutic method, treatment, service, safety device, safety product, organization or vendor. Connecting for Kids is not responsible for the content produced by, or the services rendered by, any third party that is referenced. Be sure to consult with your child’s health care provider concerning these tips.