A new study has found that drivers can significantly reduce the chance of being involved in a backover crash with the use of technologies such as sensors and reversing cameras.

Research was carried out by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) study, supported by the Victoria government in Australia, Transport Accident Commission, VicRoads and RACV.

It found that vehicles using reversing camera technology are 41% less likely to be involved in a backover crash.

Vehicles featuring parking sensors are 31% are less likely to be involved in a crash.

“Having a rear-reversing camera and sensor installed in your car makes parking and reversing easier for drivers.”

For the study, the research centre considered 3,172 pedestrian injuries reported in New Zealand and Australia’s four largest states.

Most of the vehicles available now come fitted with sensors and cameras as a standard. However, older vehicles can easily be retrofitted with this technology to avoid backover crashes.

The Victoria government’s Towards Zero Roads Safety Strategy is a $1.3bn investment to keep people safe on roads and to enable safer vehicle travel on the roads.

As part of this strategy, the government is introducing its Safer Vehicles and Technology package, which will require all government vehicles to be equipped with safety features and have a minimum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said: “Having a rear-reversing camera and sensor installed in your car makes parking and reversing easier for drivers, but it could also save a life or prevent someone from being seriously injured.”

MUARC deputy director associate professor Stuart Newstead said: “70% of backover crashes happen when people are parking or reversing from a driveway and it’s fantastic to see these technologies are making a difference.”