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This Halloween - drivers, parents and children should slow down for safety
October 27, 2009, St. Paul, Minn. - On a night when many children spend hours in close proximity to cars as they navigate through neighborhoods gathering candy, pedestrian safety should be a top priority for both drivers and parents, reminds Safe Kids Minnesota, coordinated by the Minnesota Safety Council. On average, twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween compared to other days of the year. Low visibility in the early evening hours makes it important for drivers to slow down and watch out for trick-or-treaters, especially around crosswalks.
"The simple act of slowing down on neighborhood roads will not only make the tricks and treats of Halloween more enjoyable for everyone, but also it could save lives," said Erin Petersen, coordinator of Safe Kids Minnesota. Safe Kids reminds motorists to be extra careful this Halloween and recommends that drivers:
- Slow down in residential neighborhoods.
- Slowly and carefully enter and exit driveways and alleys.
- Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
- Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
Pedestrian safety is not just the responsibility of the driver, however. Parents can do their part to help kids stay out of the emergency room on Halloween by emphasizing safe pedestrian behaviors before they go out trick-or-treating:
- Children younger than age 12 should not cross streets alone at night without an adult. If older kids are mature enough to go trick-or-treating without adult supervision, parents should make sure they go in a group and stick to a predetermined route with good lighting.
- Cross the street safely at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Teach children to look left, right and left again when crossing and to keep looking as they cross. They should walk, not run, across the street.
- Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, children should walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. They should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
- Slow down and stay alert - tell children to watch out for cars that are turning or backing up and never to dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars.
- Wear costumes that are both creative and safe. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Masks can obstruct a child's vision, so choose non-toxic face paint and make-up whenever possible instead. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights in order to see better, as well as be seen by drivers.
- Stop only at well-lit houses or apartments, and never enter the home of strangers. Adults should check treats for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them.
Halloween safety brochures are available on the Minnesota Safety Council's website, in English and Spanish. See www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org/facts/haloeng.pdf and www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org/facts/halospan.pdf. The brochures contain safety tips designed for children and adults to review together.
Safe Kids Minnesota is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Minnesota was founded in 1988 and is led by the Minnesota Safety Council.
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