Have a Happy – Not Scary – Halloween!
Halloween is a happy time for little ghouls, witches and goblins. But, it can also be a scary time.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on Halloween night in 2012, almost half (48 percent) of all crash fatalities involved an impaired driver.
Children are more than two times as likely to be killed by a car on Halloween night compared to any other night, according to Sake Kids Worldwide.
Potential for Mishaps
Halloween night is also a time when our Newport Beach personal injury lawyers see a number of pedestrian collisions, slip-trip-and-fall accidents and crashes involving distracted and impaired drivers.
Since Halloween falls on a Friday this year, there’s all the more reason to be careful and ensure that we are not getting behind the wheel while under the influence or allowing friends or party guests to drive drunk.
Safety Tips for Halloween
Here are some safety tips for trick-or-treaters, drivers and others who are celebrating:
For trick-or-treaters: Apply reflective tape to the front and back of your child’s costume and his or her goody bag to improve visibility. It’s a good idea to use glow sticks and flashlights, once again, to improve visibility. Ill-fitting costumes and masks can increase the chance of a child tripping and falling. Make sure costumes are not too long and masks fit properly. If not, use face paint instead of masks.
Adult chaperones: Adults should always accompany young trick-or-treaters. Older children should tell parents the route they will be taking to trick-or-treat. Make sure all children stay together in the group. Trick-or-treaters should use sidewalks to get from house to house. It is not safe to cut across yards, driveways or alleys or run in between cars. All pedestrians should use crosswalks to get across the street.
Property owners: All property owners should ensure that their premises are safe for trick-or-treaters. Put plenty of lights in your driveway and entryway. If you have any broken stairs that are not fixed, make sure you put a warning sign or tape around the dangerous area.
Drivers: If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a cab or use the Tipsy Tow service provided by AAA in most areas. Do not drive distracted or fatigued. Always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. Slow down in residential neighborhoods.
All of us at Bisnar Chase hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween!