The nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports has just urged Congress to adopt standards making vehicles safer for children in and around cars.

Consumers Union asked Congress to support provisions that call for a study on the danger to children from being backed over and calling for the government to track injuries and deaths that occur in driveways or parking lots that do not currently get into the database. The publisher also supports requiring power window safety switches that are designed to minimize hazards to children.

Experts call them "back over accidents," and these accidents, which are completely preventable, occur when somebody driving a car, very often a large SUV, backs over a child resulting in crippling or fatal injuries.

Back over accidents are on the rise. Perhaps this is just one more reason to hate SUVs.

Unfortunately, it takes only a split second to change a family and child's life forever. At least one test has demonstrated that SUV drivers, using regular rear view mirrors, often cannot see children playing directly behind their vehicles.

These visibilty issues are one of the main concerns with SUVs. Imagine knowing that you've just run over somebody that you love very much.

There are technologies available that can decrease the chances of these accidents taking place. TV cameras can be mounted on the back of your car, costing around $700 when professionally installed. While this may be an expensive purchase for some, it would seem to be an excellent investment.

Wide-angle lenses are much less expensive and can also help prevent back over accidents. These lenses are mounted on to the rear window of the vehicle.

There are also sensors that can be installed in the back of the vehicle, though due to sensitivity levels, they don't appear to be as effective as lenses or cameras.

SUVs are too large, and visibility in them is too low, for a driver to be absent minded for even a moment, especially where children are concerned. When you have such a large vehicle, there's no moment in time for a lapse in judgment.

Even the smallest lapse can detsroy lives. The most logical advice it seems, is to look behind your vehicle before you even start the engine. Do this every single time.

Always check your mirrors before moving your vehicle to make sure that children have not run behind it. Know where your children are.

If they were outside when you entered the vehicle, ask where are they now? Be sure to talk to your children about the dangers of playing around vehicles. Help them to understand how to protect themselves.

Fifty back over accidents so far in just this year alone! This is an epidemic and it needs attention now.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.