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Stop Vehicle-Into-Building and into Playground Crashes Before They Happen 

Every year in the U.S., as many as 36,000 vehicles strike stores, offices, child care programs, bus stops, restaurants, and other storefronts, causing 16,000+ severe injuries and up to 2,600 deaths. Most are preventable.

The Problem

Vehicles crash into U.S. buildings more than 100 times a day, and early learning sites are no exception. An analysis of over 300 early childhood education specific incidents reveals that roughly half resulted in injuries. With classrooms and playgrounds often positioned just 25 feet from parking lots or drive lanes, a momentary pedal error during drop-off can breach the building's facade before anyone inside has time to react. This risk is frequent, foreseeable, and preventable, which is why practical, child-centered safeguards matter now more than ever.

Our Objective

The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is a proud partner of the Storefront Safety Council. Our goal is simple - to keep little learners, educators, and families safe where drop-off, pick-up, and play happen. Through the Council, we provide practical, evidence-based guidance that early childhood programs can use right away whether you’re in a leased storefront, a school building, a stand alone center, a religious facility, or a family child-care home.

The Solution

Our three-part series delivers practical, low-cost steps you can implement right away, designed specifically for early learning programs in leased storefronts, Head Start programs, stand-alone centers, faith-based sites, and family child-care homes. 

What you’ll learn

Understand the risk (Part 1).
How and why low-speed, pedal-error crashes reach façades and playground edges, and what that means for drop-off, pick-up, and outdoor play.

Assess your site (Part 2).
Map impact zones, document hazards within 25 feet of parking/drive lanes, and prioritize feasible fixes that work within landlord, zoning, or historic constraints.

Apply affordable fixes (Part 3).
Layer protection with simple options: wheel stops/curbs, staff-car shielding, raised planters/landscape beds, lighting/striping, interior room layout, and plain-language drills, plus how to measure if changes are working.

When Cars Meet Classrooms: Preventing Child Care & Playground Crashes with Rob Reiter Part 1 of 3

When Cars Meet Classrooms: Preventing Child Care & Playground Crashes with Rob Reiter Part 1 of 3

Designing Safety: How Architecture Protects Children from Vehicle Accidents

Designing Safety: How Architecture Protects Children from Vehicle Accidents

Protecting Playgrounds: The Hidden Danger No One Talks About

Protecting Playgrounds: The Hidden Danger No One Talks About

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Free Site Assessment from Storefront Safety Council

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Crashing Into Safety: Childcare Protection Basics

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Designing Safety: Smarter Sites for Safer Programs

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Safety Barriers That Work: Practical Fixes for Childcare

More coming soon! Check back for new resources and updates.

News

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Mandatory Barriers

Childcare providers calling on the province to fund mandatory parking barriers.

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Ontario proposes changes after daycare crash

Ontario government proposes changes, driver charged after daycare crash

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Driver nearly crashes into NW Miami-Dade day care

The car struck the gate of the property and an exterior wall. No injuries reported.

Coventry Child Care Crash

Five children injured after car crashes through fence of Coventry child care center

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Vehicle Crashes into Memphis Daycare

Police say the driver hit a utility pole before driving into the daycare.

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SUV Kills Young Child

Child dead, 9 others injured after car crashes into daycare in Canada

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Car Crashed Through After-school Building

The crash killed four girls, and sent six more victims to the hospital.

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