Halloween
Driving Safety Tips
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, October 31 may be the scariest night of the year for kids—and
not because it’s Halloween.
Children are four more times likely to be hit by a car on
Halloween than any other day, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s one of the top
three days of the year for pedestrian injuries and deaths.
Usually, our biggest fear on Trick-or-Treat is our kids
taking candy from strangers, but safety on the streets might actually be the
biggest danger.
Here are a few trips for drivers and Trick-or-Treaters to
keep them safe this season.
For
Drivers
· Avoid neighborhood shortcuts. If
possible, don’t cut through residential streets where trick-or-treaters are
likely to be walking. (Source: AAA)
· Look for kids everywhere.
Realize that candy-hungry ghosts and goblins are probably not following crossing
rules and may be walking boldly through the streets. In fact, according to the
Fatality Analysis Reporting System, only 30% of Halloween accidents occurred at
intersections and crosswalks. Watch for kids everywhere--on roadways, medians,
curbs, yards and front porches. Also, realize they may be dressed in dark clothing
and hard to see at night.
· Slow down. Slow
down in residential neighborhoods and pay extra attention to traffic rules and
signals. Drive at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit, since excited
trick-or-treaters may run out in front of your car. According to the AAA
Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian is more than twice as likely to be
killed if they're hit by a car traveling at 35 mph instead of 25 mph. Just 10
mph can be a saving grace.
For Parents
and Kids
Know
the most dangerous hours. Most fatalities occur from 6-7 p.m., while
60% of fatal accidents occurred from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Fatality Analysis
Reporting System)
· Don’t text while walking. Teen
injuries have increased in recent years, possibly due to texting.
· Wear retro-reflective tape on
costumes and treat buckets for night visibility.
· Avoid facemasks because they block your
vision. Use face paint instead.
· Stay on sidewalks. If
the street has no sidewalks, stay to the left side of the road and face
traffic.
