While Halloween 2020 could be a bit different than past years, it’s still important to be alert when navigating the roads this season!
Safety Tips For Parents & Trick or Treaters
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Halloween is one of the three top days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities. These are some ways parents can prepare for keeping their children safe this Halloween. Parents should also make sure that their children are wearing costumes that promote safety.
- Encourage children to choose costumes that are light, bright, and/or reflective. Dark costumes might be scarier, but may also make it difficult to be seen by drivers in the street. A simple compromise could be to add reflective tape to your child’s costume or you can provide your child with glow sticks, glowing necklaces or wrist bands.
- Masks should be well fitting, allowing a full field of vision. Sometimes the solution may be as simple as cutting the eye opening a little larger.
- Avoid costume choices that have loose hanging material. This could be a tripping hazard or might brush near flames.
- Encourage kids to travel in groups.
- Accompany young children when going door-to-door so they feel safe around strangers.
- Children or their chaperones should bring flashlights to increase visibility and to help see where they are going in the dark.
- Encourage your children to walk, not run from house to house, and to use sidewalks, look both ways when crossing the street, and to cross at crosswalks where possible.
Halloween Safety for Drivers
As a driver you should be aware that there will be many children everywhere and understand your duty to exercise extreme caution when driving in areas where children may be present.
- Do not exceed the posted speed limit, and at times should drive well below the posted speed limit, when driving through neighborhoods.
- Be prepared to stop at a moment’s notice as children may be more likely to run into the street.
- Do not pass vehicles stopped in the road, as they may be picking up or dropping off trick-or-treaters.
- When passing a parked vehicle in a residential neighborhood, be aware that a child may suddenly emerge from behind the vehicle.
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween
Hopefully these Halloween safety tips were helpful and will help for you and your little monsters to have a safe and happy Halloween!