With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, the number of partygoers and trick-or-treaters roaming the streets by foot and by car is sure to soar. It’s a time that should be nothing but fun, but according to these scary facts, Halloween can quickly turn into a nightmare.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists Halloween as consistently one of the top three nights for pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
For kids, the statistics are even deadlier. Kids are twice as likely to be killed by a car while walking on Halloween than any other night of the year, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Deaths related to drunken drivers are also up: More than 115 people were killed by drunken drivers on Halloween night between 2009 and 2013, NHTSA reports.
No, we here at Cars.com are not going as Debbie Downers this year for Halloween. We love Halloween, but we want it to be safe for everyone, so use the following tips to keep you and yours safe this spooktacular night. You can thank us in candy later.
If you’re driving
• Slow down! Pay particular attention when driving in residential areas where pedestrian traffic is likely to be heavy. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian is more than two times as likely to be killed if they’re hit by a car traveling at 35 mph compared to 25 mph. What seems like a small reduction in speed — 10 mph — can be the difference between life and death.
• Remember that the kids are excited, excitable and sometimes unpredictable. Keep your eyes on the road and reduce any distractions inside your car (that’s right, stop texting or live tweeting during your drive, on Halloween and every day)!
• If you’re behind the wheel, you better be sober. We don’t need to explain this one.
• If you’re not sober, have a sober friend drive, grab a ride-sharing service, a taxi or hop on some public transportation.
For trick-or-treaters and their parents/guardians
• When suiting up, avoid costumes that drag along the ground and could potentially trip someone. Make sure masks don’t obscure vision. Seek costumes in light or bright colors that are easier for cars to see. There are even some costumes that light up on their own, delighting little ones and making them safer.
• Let it glow! Apply reflective tape to children’s costumes, jackets or treat sacks. Bring along a flashlight (don’t forget to check the batteries before you head out!) to illuminate your path or even adorn the children with some of the glow necklaces or glow sticks that are found in abundance in the dollar section at your favorite store.
•Review routes and safety precautions with younger and older children alike. Older children who are on their own should let their parents know the route they’re travelling and have an agreed upon time to come home. Everyone should stay on sidewalks, use crosswalks to cross the streets and be vigilant about looking for automotive traffic from all directions.
• All together now! Adults or an older teenager should accompany younger trick-or-treaters. AAA suggests that youngsters have a chaperone until age 12. Older kids should travel in groups and stay together — it’s more fun together anyhow.
• Enjoy yourselves. Halloween is supposed to be and genuinely is, fun.
Once everyone is home safely, allow the kids a few pieces of candy before bed (after you’ve checked to be sure it’s safe, of course) and then carry on with binge-watching old horror films while binge-eating some of the wee ones’ candy. They won’t even notice.
