Trick or Treating should be one of the great adventures of Halloween for kids! They can get dressed in scary costumes and go door to door, begging “Tricks or Treats!” from neighbors or at the local mall. Lots of small towns have a Halloween Safe Night at the community center or school so kids can Trick-or-Treat safely but going door to door is the stuff of childhood memories! It should be a fun time, without trouble and pain, so following some easy tips can keep your child safe every Halloween.
- – Children should always go out trick or treating accompanied by a responsible adult. If you have a group of kids going, the parents should choose two or three of them to go along and keep an eye on things.
- – Some towns set a curfew for trick or treating which makes it easier for townsfolk to know who’s coming to their door. Make sure and stick to the curfew times and stick to subdivisions and areas with a lot of homes so your kids can get in as much trick or treating as possible in a few hours time.
- – Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return home. Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves. Make sure that they have a cell phone.
- – Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields if they are out alone. Make sure they know to stay in populated areas and not to go off the beaten track. Let them know to stay in well lighted areas with lots of people around. Explain to them why it can be dangerous for kids not to do this. If they are going out alone, they are old enough to know what can happen to them in a bad situation and how to stop it from happening.
- – Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you. This way you can check for any problem candy and get the pick of the best stuff!
- – Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car. Explain why this is not a god idea and what to do if someone approaches them and tries to talk to them.
- – Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.
- – Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult.
Here are some tips for those driving on Halloween Night
What most don’t know about Halloween is that it’s the deadliest night for pedestrians, which see twice as many child pedestrians killed out of any other day of the year
- Avoid driving in the early evening. This is when the most pedestrian traffic will be out an particularly residential roads will be very slow.
- Let other motorists know what you are doing. Use hazard lights when dropping off and collecting trick-or-treaters.
- Limit your speed. Residential speed limits across the country vary, but it’s best to travel below the posted limit. Children can be unpredictable and may appear in your path of travel unexpectedly. The stopping distance for a car traveling at 50mph is 175 feet or 13 car lengths. For a car traveling at 20mph, the stopping distance is 40 feet or 3 car lengths. The difference can be life changing.
- Headlights, sidelights, reverse lights. Ensure all lights are working and that you are visible!
- Allow plenty of time for your journey.
- Listen. Keep the sound levels on your radio down and consider opening your windows to hear children (weather permitting of course). Parked cars act as a barrier, which might obstruct excited trick-or-treaters running across the road.
- Look out for late night drivers. Adults celebrate Halloween as well and some who may be driving home later under the influence of more than just candy. Avoid drivers who are erratic or speeding.
- Opt for make-up rather than a mask. If you’re heading to a party, don’t obscure your vision. Put masks on after parking the car.
- Weekend traffic is likely to be busier either side of Halloween as it falls on a Firday this year, so plan journeys accordingly across the week.
- School run traffic will be busier with families collecting children ahead of their costume transformation. Make sure you collect children in safe areas and park where it’s legal.
- Ensure there is a designated driver if you are planning to drink at a party.
- Vigilant driving with special caution when backing out of driveways as children may be difficult to see in rear windows.
- Eliminate distractions so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
For more child safety tips go to http://www.halloween-safety.com
Have a Fun and Safe Halloween.