Parents reminded of fatal driveway danger

Authorities are urging parents to be aware of the dangers of driveways with three Queensland children struck by low-speed vehicles on average each week.

Former Wallabies forward Brendan Cannon is still haunted by the day he accidentally reversed over his 16-month-old son in the driveway of their Brisbane home.

Samuel made a full recovery but seven years later the former Queensland, NSW and Western Force hooker hopes he can prevent other parents repeating the potentially fatal error.

"We're just so incredibly lucky we still have our beautiful boy," said Cannon, who played 42 rugby union Tests for Australia.

"Sadly, one moment of driveway complacency can turn into a moment of tragedy."

Ironically, the incident came five years after another former Wallabies and NSW hooker, Phil Kearns, accidentally ran over his 19-month-old daughter Andie in his Sydney driveway.

She also recovered fully despite being critically injured at the time.

Royal Automobile Club of Queensland spokesman Steve Spalding says parents should be vigilant about driveways throughout the school holidays, which was a particularly high-risk time for children to be run over.

He says low-speed vehicles run over an average of three Queensland children a week, with eight children killed each year across the country.

"With children playing around the house over the school break, we're urging parents to be alert," Mr Spalding said.


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Source: AAP



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