Tomorrow is All Hallow’s Eve, which means there will be all sorts of pedestrians—most of them children—on the sidewalks and streets and in the dark.
Here are a few tips to help ensure everyone safely returns home on Halloween, courtesy of Safe Kids Worldwide.
First, for the kiddos:
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right, and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross.
- Put electronic devices down, keep your heads up, and walk; don’t run across the street.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- Adults should join children under age 12 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
- Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape and stickers.
- Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct vision.
- Carry a glow stick or flashlight to see and to be seen by drivers.
Now, for the adults:
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, medians, and curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
- Remove all distractions—like your phone—from your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
- Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
- Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Be especially alert for kids during those hours.
Also, it goes without saying – but we’ll say it anyway – to check the contents of your children’s bags before letting them eat. By remaining cautious and attentive, we can make Halloween a fun-filled night for all of us, especially the little ones.
