On Halloween night, twice as many children die in pedestrian car accidents as compared with any other night of the year. Republican Herald indicates the majority of the fatalities happen between the hours of 4 and 10 PM.
When more kids are out on the road trick-or-treating, kids, parents, and drivers need to know there are dangers. These tips can help everyone to do their part to stay safe.
Tips for Parents to Prevent Halloween Car Accidents
According to Safe Kids, 31 percent of parents worry their kids will get into car crashes on Halloween. Parents can help prevent accidents by:
- Following the lead of 3/4 of parents who consider safety when choosing their child’s costume. Costumes should fit right and not be too long to create a tripping hazard. Kids should also stick with face paint instead of masks, which could make it harder for children to see.
- Limit when kids can trick-or-treat alone. Twelve percent of parents said they allowed kids aged five and under go to trick-or-treating without an adult. Counting on older kids to stay focused on supervising their siblings amidst the excitement of Halloween can be dangerous. Safe Kids recommends not allowing kids to go out alone until at lear age 12.
- Speaking with their kids each year about car accident dangers and other Halloween risks. Only 35 percent of parents talk annually with their children about how to stay safe on Halloween.
- Making sure older kids make safe choices. Of the pedestrian crashes on Halloween, 33 percent are caused by drivers aged 15 to 25.
Tips for Drivers to Prevent Halloween Car Accidents
Parents can only do so much to stop deadly accidents. Drivers also need to avoid causing motor vehicle collisions or pedestrian crashes. Drivers should:
- Have a designated driver if they are going to drink. On Halloween night each year, drunk drivers whose BAC is above the limit cause 23 percent of pedestrian accidents, according to Patch. Have a sober driver lined up before drinking starts.
- Avoid going too fast. You never know when a child will come out in the road, especially as more than 70 percent of all pedestrian crashes happen outside intersections or crosswalks. Kids could run out in front of your car at any time, and if you are going slowly you are less likely to hit them since you can stop sooner. Even if your car makes contact, slower speed means less momentum and less chance of a child dying.
- Stay focused on the road. If you are distracted, you are less likely to see a child.
Tips for Kids to Prevent Halloween Car Accidents
Kids need to make sure they cross the road only at intersections or designated areas. They should use a flash light if trick or treating when dark (only 35 percent of parents require a flashlight). They should also look both ways before crossing the road so they do not get into the path of oncoming vehicles.
If kids, drivers, and parents all come together to focus on safety on Halloween night, hopefully everyone can celebrate safely.
