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Halloween tricks for safer treats

The facts are scary.

Four times as many young pedestrians (ages 5 - 14) are killed on Halloween than any other evening of the year, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. Trick-or-treating can quickly turn into a nightmare if someone gets hurt. On Halloween, children dressed in dark colors and in costumes that sometimes cover their eyes walk the streets at dusk when many adults are heading off to parties.

While young, excited trick-or-treaters may forget the rules of the road and be oblivious to the hazards, we as drivers must be vigilant.

"Tricks" for Drivers:

Drive well below the posted speed limit.
Don't use a cell phone while driving through neighborhoods. A single distraction could be tragic.
Be extra alert when pulling in and out of driveways.
Watch for children darting across streets, especially between parked cars. Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway. They could be dropping off children.

"Tricks" for Parents:

Make sure drivers can see the children. Give kids flashlights and glow sticks. Dress kids in bright colors or use reflective tape on their costumes.
Use makeup, rather than masks, so children have a clear, unobstructed view of their surroundings.
Be sure children know how to cross a street: look left, right, and left again before crossing.
Instruct children to stay on sidewalks and to cross only at corners or crosswalks.

Accompany your children as they trick or treat.