In December 2020, two young children were killed when a vehicle veered onto a miniature golf course in Panama City Beach, Florida. The children, a 4-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl were playing miniature golf with their family when the accident occurred; no protective barriers were in place.
Unfortunately, just four years later another troubling incident occurred in the same city that could have resulted in loss of life. WJHG Staff (2024) reported that a vehicle drove into a daycare center just 15 minutes away from the previous incident site, with 7 children and 3 teachers in the building at the time of the crash; luckily no one was injured inside the daycare.
In both cases, tragedy could have been avoided if protective barriers, or other protective applications, were in place. The danger is evident, and the lack of applied protection methods left people and property unprotected.
With an ever-increasing need for daycare services, more facilities will be required to meet the demand for childcare. With greater need, the danger increases as many of these centers lack such protective applications ( or funding) to prevent these types of incidents. With many of the facilities constructed next to congested roadways, that danger increases. The loss of one life should be the call for better protection of children and workers in daycare facilities and efforts increased to provide guidance for protection inclusion.
Some of the most common causes of vehicles crashing into buildings or playgrounds include:

• Parking Lot Traffic Flow and Drop-Offs: Daycares often have parking lots or drop-off zones close to the entrance. Poorly designed parking lot traffic flows and drop-off areas increase the risk of a driver accidentally accelerating into the building, backing over a child or otherwise injuring a child they may not see.
• Driver Error: Mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brake, distracted driving, or medical emergencies can cause drivers to lose control.
• Lack of Protective Barriers: Many daycare centers lack physical barriers such as bollards or reinforced fences that can stop a vehicle before it reaches the building or playground.
• High Traffic Areas: Facilities located near busy roads or intersections are at higher risk of being struck by vehicles leaving the roadway.

Of these, most facilities only have control over two issues, that being:
Parking Lot Traffic Flow and Drop-Offs
Lack of Protective Barriers
Parking Lot Traffic Flow and Drop Offs: By redesigning the flow of the parking area or setting up the location and traffic flow of drop-off areas, an investment in safety for children and staff can be established. By following a structured approach and considering the needs of all stakeholders, you can create a parking environment that meets modern standards and enhances the overall experience for everyone who uses it; safety for the children is increased.
Lack of Protective Barriers: By placing protective bollards that meet the ASTM International standards, the threat of a vehicle penetrating a building or playground could be reduced significantly. However, the design of the bollards is just as important as their placement. Bollards that are not constructed of materials that meet the above-mentioned standards may create an additional danger and a false sense of security. Bollards that look strong may fail and only add to liability issues of a failure to protect. As Robert Reiter, Co-Founder of the Storefront Safety Council and Principal at Reiter and Reiter Consulting Inc., has stated, “The most expensive bollard made is the one that fails.” That failure is not only measured in financial loss, but more importantly, the loss in life and long-term trauma for a family or child.
The potential dangers and consequences of an incident vary; however, these include:
Severe Injuries or Fatalities: Children are particularly vulnerable due to their size and inability to react quickly. Collisions can lead to serious injuries or even loss of life among children and staff.
Psychological Trauma: Witnessing or being involved in a car crash can cause long-term emotional and psychological distress for children, teachers, and families.
Structural Damage: Vehicles crashing into daycare buildings can compromise the structural integrity of the facility, requiring the closing down of the operation.
Disruption of Routines of Family and Workers: After an incident, a daycare may have to close temporarily or permanently, disrupting the routines of families who rely on the service for childcare.

Sadly, many organizations wait until something happens to make the changes necessary to prevent these incidents from happening. The key is looking ahead to what could happen, discussing the dangers and threats, and following positive actions that can make a difference in protecting children and staff. Decisions need to be made and acted upon, not delayed. Simple applications could be made such as:

Adding bollards, reinforced fences, or concrete planters, based on the ASTM International standards, between parking areas and buildings to prevent vehicles from entering the facility.
Designing traffic flows and safe drop-off procedures: with adequate space, clear signage, and restricted vehicle access near entrances.
Posting speed limits, using traffic calming (speed bumps) as well as advising parents and facility staff about safe driving practices in daycare zones.
Establishing a process to conduct periodic reviews of the facility’s layout and surrounding traffic patterns to identify, and address, potential hazards before they become evident in an incident.

While fatalities are rare, the incidents are not, and the consequences of such an event could be severe and long-lasting when they occur. By understanding the risks and implementing preventive measures, daycare operators and communities can significantly reduce the chances of such tragedies and, more importantly, create a safer environment for children and staff. ❦

(A special thank you to Mr. Robert Reiter, Co-Founder of the Storefront Safety Council and Principal at Reiter and Reiter Consulting Inc., for his expertise and assistance in the development of the article. https://www.storefrontsafetyexperts.com/robert-reiter)

WJHG Staff. (2024, September 18). Car crashes into daycare in Panama City. WJHG. https://www.wjhg.com/2024/09/18/car-crashes-into-daycare-panama-city/

About the Author

Rodney Andreasen is currently the owner of Xspct, LLC located in Marianna, Fl. He was born and raised in Marianna, located in Jackson County, Florida, graduating from Marianna High School in 1976. He joined the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1978 serving 21 years in a variety of assignments in the United States and overseas. He served as a Security Specialist and later as a Professional Military Education (PME) instructor and curriculum developer. He retired from active duty in 1999 with the rank of Master Sergeant.
In 1999 he was selected to develop trainers and training programs for the Florida Department of Revenue and in 2001 he was selected for the position of Emergency Management Director for Jackson County. In Sept 2004, he led the response to the tornadoes that were spawned by Hurricane Ivan and in October 2018, he led the response to Hurricane Michael that entered Jackson County as a Category 4 hurricane. He retired from that position in December of 2020 after serving 21 years in local and state government.
In Jan 2021 he formed Xspct, LLC, conducting Physical Risk and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Assessments as well as Active Shooter Prevention Training for governmental and non-governmental organizations.

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