Trick-or-Treat with Care to Avoid the Real Terror on Halloween

Posted by Unknown on Thursday, October 27, 2011

Halloween is upon us – the time of year filled with pumpkin carving, haunted houses, parties, and of course, trick-or-treating! When contemplating what to dress up as this year, don’t forget the most important thing that should accompany every Halloween costume—SAFETY. Kids of all ages taking to the darkened streets on a quest for candy can present any number of traffic hazards, so it should come as no surprise that October 31 is the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians. 

Remember, costumes do not come with magical powers. Pedestrians, especially young children, are even more vulnerable walking around after dark in poorly lit or high traffic areas. While Halloween and horror go hand-in-hand, there’s nothing scarier than a child being hit by a car because they weren’t able to be seen by the driver. 

No matter what your plans are this Halloween Weekend, follow these tips, and dare we say tricks, to ensure your haunts remain harmless:

Tips For Trick-or-Treaters:
…  Walk—don’t run—in groups or with a trusted adult.
…  Attach something reflective to your costume or candy bag.
…  Carry a flashlight or wear something lit, such as a glow stick, make yourself more visible.
…  Walk on sidewalks or on the edge of the road facing traffic to be easily seen.
…  Avoid potential hazards by not cutting across yards or driveways.
…  Cross at a crosswalk or an intersection whenever possible.
…  Look both ways before crossing the street.
…  Make eye contact with drivers to ensure they see you before crossing.
…  Set a curfew of 9:00pm to avoid being out too late after dark.

Tips For Drivers:
…  Be extra mindful of increased pedestrian traffic in your neighborhood.
…  Avoid driving in residential neighborhoods during trick-or-treating hours.
…  Turn your headlights on an hour before dusk so you’re more obvious to pedestrians.
…  Stop at intersections, even if there isn’t a stop sign, to let pedestrians cross safely.
…  Slow down, be alert and avoid distractions.

Finally, take the pledge for no trick-or-tweeting behind the wheel!

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 1:38 PM. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.