PING (Park IN Gear)
Park your car + Handbrake + Put in Gear!

What's the PING Campaign is about?

5 year old Harry Patterson was tragically killed September 2011, when the family car rolled down the drive and crushed little Harry.

Michelle and Christian Patterson had never known to park the car in gear and although the hand break was still on, a combination of a steep driveway, slippage of breaks and the car not being parked in gear caused this horrific tragic accident.

The investigating police officer at the inquest told the coroner that although it is in the highway code, people still do not know to park their car in gear.

The Patterson family have learnt the hard way and are now campaigning to make sure that everyone is aware of the safe way to park a vehicle in the hope that no other family will ever have to go through what they have.

Please can you help us spread the word about PING - thank you from everyone at Harry's Fund.

A message from Harry's Dad Christian,
after the inquest into Harry's death (on the 6th Dec.2011)

We attended the inquest in to Harry's death today - the outcome was as expected Accidental - if the car was parked in gear then the tragic accident that has taken our beautiful son would never have happened.

Neither Michelle nor myself were aware that a car should be parked in gear - the officer who gave evidence at the inquest stated that he was unaware of the need to park in gear until he did a police driving course - the coroner agreed that it isn't common knowledge despite being a part of the highway code and most car manuals.

It is my intention to start a campaign called PING! which stands for Parking IN Gear! If you are parked facing up an incline please remember to park in first gear - likewise if you are parked facing down an incline remember to park in reverse (Always ensure that the car is in neutral before starting the engine)

PING! Parking IN Gear! - please start our campaign off by spreading the word. It is too late for us; but this campaign could save lives. So please remember this advice yourself and please, please, please spread the word.

PING! Parking IN Gear!

Thank you x

With 6+million results on Google (as of 30th Sep.2012),
...the problem's bigger than you think!

Sure, some of the 6 million results will be duplicates. Just excl. reports, you only need look at the 1st page to see many separate tragedy's.
Google Search (Car ~rolled back on driveway ~child -report).

Think your Child's safe in your driveway?
... take a look at some ROSPA reports (further below)

" 83% believed it was unlikely their child would ever
be injured by a vehicle parked on their driveway "

Snippet: ROSPA's Report
- 'Children in and around Cars'.

Table 1:
Child Deaths involving vehicles on or near driveways, 2006 – 2010, GB*
Year, Age of Casualty, Circumstances.
2006 2 years Vehicle rolled down steep driveway at a nursery
2007 2 years Family member reversing car on driveway
2007 18 months Taxi reversing on driveway
2007 12 months Child accidentally started car which reversed 
over second child
2008 18 months Family member reversing car on driveway
2008 18 months Family member reversing car on driveway
2088 7 years Neighbour pulling onto driveway
2008 2 years Neighbour reversing on driveway
2008 5 years Family member pulling onto driveway
2008 21 months Family friend reversing on driveway
2008 6 years  Family member operating JCB on driveway
2008 12 months Car rolled back on driveway
2009 3 years Neighbour reversing off driveway onto street
2010 2 years Family member manoeuvring vehicle
2010 2 years Child accidently started vehicle and fell out
2010 6 years Fell out of reversing car
* It should be noted that this data is taken from press reports not official statistics or accident 
investigations.

Donate to our PING campaign...

Please donate to support our PING campaign, your donation will help us to spread the word and promote our campaign
Thank you.

Please...  >Donate to PING<

    Support our PING campaign
    - let us know your thoughts & ideas

    Let us know your thoughts and ideas,
    on how we can spread the word
    and/or any support you can offer. 

Some downloads...

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rospa-children-in-and-around-cars-report.pdf
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rospa-children-in-cars.pdf
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