How to Childproof a Driveway With a Safety Gate

Measure your driveway and buy a cloth or net safety gate that is long enough to reach across the entire driveway and, preferably, a few feet onto the properties on both sides. If you choose not to buy a prebuilt kit, you can use sturdy poles and mesh or netting to create a makeshift homemade gate.

Drive the anchor posts for the gate into your lawn or flower beds on both sides of the driveway. You can also drive two tall stakes into the ground if you want to make your own gate instead of purchasing one.

Attach the netting gate to the post on one side of the driveway. If you bought a retractable system, you should be able to retract the gate to coil it neatly up on one side of the driveway. If you bought a loose gate or are making your own, you will have to wrap the gate around the post until it is time to put it up.

Place yellow warning signs at the entry to your driveway to warn away approaching cars. This provides added protection on top of the fence.

Pull out the mesh gate and attach it to the other post any time your children are playing in the yard or on the driveway. Loose balls and toys will be stopped before they roll into the street, preventing your children from dashing out to save them. The barrier also reminds children where it is safe to play and prevents cars from turning into the driveway when children are on it.