Characterized by a surge of pedestrian traffic, especially young children, Halloween night is one of the deadliest nights of the year in the U.S. for pedestrians. More specifically, on Halloween between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., around 4 times more children (aged 5 to 14 years) die in traffic incidents in the U.S. than at any other day or time, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the number of pedestrian deaths in the U.S. increased by nearly 50% between 2009 and 2019. In light of these statistics, both drivers and pedestrians alike should take extra precautions during Halloween. Here are some Halloween driving and trick-or-treating safety tips to get you started.
Trick-or-Treating with Children
- Consider going for treat-or-treating around sunset or early evening before it's truly dark, especially if you have elementary-aged kids or toddlers
- Accompany children 12 years or younger for trick-or-treating
- Ensure children do not cross streets or driveways without help and watch over them all the while
- Ensure children do not run across streets or from house to house
- Ensure children follow traffic rules and look for cars when crossing streets
- Cross the roads only at street corners or crosswalks
- Avoid poorly lit streets
- Instead of walking on lawns or between cars, ensure children stay on sidewalks
- To be on the safe side, do not assume you have the right of way
- Dress in light-colored costumes or put reflective tape on children's costumes
- Avoid costumes that include masks or other features that may create visibility issues
- Avoid long costumes that could potentially cause children to fall or stumble
- Carry a flashlight or glow sticks, especially if you live in a poorly lit area
- If you are transporting young trick-or-treaters, such as toddlers, avoid costumes with added paddings or hard surfaces because such costumes may make it challenging to use car safety features such as a car-seat harness
Halloween Driving Safety Tips
- When driving in residential areas, comply with the set speed limits or, better yet, drive slightly below the set speed limit
- Respect traffic signs and signals
- Remain alert all the while because even streets that generally have little traffic may be crowded with trick-or-treaters, especially young children who may be less aware of road safety rules or even less visible than adults because of their short stature
- Be particularly careful in areas where your vision may be restricted, such as around parked cars and driveways
- Do not use your cell phone while driving
- Avoid distractions and be prepared to react quickly
- Even if you have the right of way, yield to pedestrians. Remember, during Halloween, most pedestrians are typically overly excited children, meaning they are likely to disregard basic traffic rules
- Don't drive under the influence of alcohol
Follow these tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable Halloween. If you would like to check your insurance policies, call
CF&P Insurance Brokers today at
(925) 956-7700.
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