Pedestrian Safety Tips for Halloween
News Brief
October 29, 2012
CHAPEL HILL, NC – The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center urges parents, motorists and most importantly trick-or-treaters to be safe this Halloween.
With thousands of children expected to be parading the streets on Oct. 31, the PBIC is offering these safety tips to help make this year’s Halloween safer and more enjoyable:
For Parents
Before children start out on their trick-or-treat rounds, parents should:
- Plan and discuss a safe route trick-or-treaters intend to follow and establish a return time. Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along the established route.
- Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12. Know the names of older children's companions. Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address, and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.
- Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.
- Let children know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult.
- Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger's home or car.
- Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
For Trick-Or-Treaters
To have a safe Trick-or-Treating adventure, trick-or-treaters should:
- Stay in familiar neighborhoods along the established route and stop only at familiar houses unless accompanied by an adult.
- Walk on sidewalks, not in the street. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
- Cross streets at crosswalks when available. Look both ways before crossing streets and cross when the lights tell you to cross, after you check for cars in all directions.
- Walk—do not run—from house to house. Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house.
- Carry a flashlight, wear clothing with reflective markings or tape, and stay in well lit areas. Wear a watch you can read in the dark.
- Don't cut across yards or driveways.
- Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards. Costumes that drag on the ground and shoes that don’t fit also present a tripping hazard, so be aware of these.
- Stay away from and don't pet animals you don't know. Do not enter the cars or houses of strangers.
For Motorists
Motorists should be especially alert on Halloween and should:
- Drive slowly through residential streets and areas where pedestrians trick-or-treating could be expected.
- Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
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