Housing New Zealand regional manager Darren Toy said the priority was to make safety improvements at Housing New Zealand properties where there were children aged 5 and under living, as toddlers were at the greatest risk of being injured in a driveway accident.
The improvements range from installing fencing, self-closing gates with child-resistant latches, speed restriction signs, speed humps and convex mirrors where appropriate.
"The work we carry out depends on the type of property - but the key priority is creating fenced play areas for children that are separate from the driveway. Ultimately we aim to complete 13,000 Housing New Zealand properties across New Zealand, over four years."
Housing New Zealand supports the work that Safekids Aotearoa, the injury prevention service of Auckland's Starship Hospital, does to prevent children being run over.
According to Safekids New Zealand has one of the highest recorded incidences of child driveway death and injury in the world, with a child hospitalised every two weeks and five children dying on average each year from these injuries.
Most children injured in driveway incidents are toddlers, aged about 2, and their injuries are often severe.
Most of these injuries come from children being run over by relatives.
Housing New Zealand provides driveway safety advice to people when they move into a state rental home and regularly includes driveway safety information in its tenant newsletters.
Mr Toy said some simple safety behaviours could also help reduce the risk of accidents on driveways.
"Know where your children are before getting in the car, check for kids before driving off and always supervise children around vehicles. Following these tips and making driveway safety improvements can definitely help save lives."
Housing New Zealand is investing $30 million in the driveway safety programme.
