It’s the Spookiest Time of the Year for Young Pedestrian

What’s not to love about the magic of Halloween? It’s a fun time of year for kids with trick-or-treating, classroom parties and haunted houses. But, Halloween is also one of the spookiest and scariest nights when it comes to pedestrian accidents – particularly those involving children who are out trick-or-treating. According to the National Safety Council, in 2015, about 6,700 pedestrian deaths and 160,000 injuries occurred as a result of pedestrian accidents.

About 17 percent of these deaths occurred when pedestrians improperly crossed roads or intersections. Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. October ranks number two in motor vehicle deaths by month, with 3,550. All of these numbers and facts point to the importance of exercising safety measures during Halloween.

Here are a few valuable safety tips for trick-or-treaters and their parents:

• Children should always be accompanied by a responsible adult while trick-or-treating. If your older children are going on their own, plan and review a route that is acceptable to you. Go over traffic safety rules before they head out.
• Children should be taken only in familiar well-lit areas.
• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant. Avoid masks and accessories that can obstruct vision.
• If children go out after dark, make sure to fasten reflective tape to their costumes. It’s also a good idea to carry glow sticks or flashlights.
• Younger and older children should not be carrying or looking at cell phones, tablets or other electronic devices while walking.
• Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Here are a few things motorists should remember on Halloween night:

• Look out for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
• Be careful especially when you enter and exit driveways and alleys.
• Watch for children in dark clothing at twilight and later in the evening.
• Never drive distracted. Put away your cell phones and electronic devices.
• Never drive while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and 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. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

We at Bisnar Chase hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween!