PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Halloween is nearly upon us, and one of the scariest things about trick-or-treating is the potential for kids to get hurt.
A few years ago researchers looked at pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night.
Perhaps not a surprise, they found a 43% higher risk of pedestrian deaths on Halloween than on a typical October night.
Holly Dalby with AAA Tidewater said there are several reasons Halloween is dangerous on our streets.
“Children can be unpredictable,” Dalby said. “So you need to be cautious when you’re driving that they may dart into the street, [or] they may walk out between two parked cars without looking.”
Making the streets even scarier is the increased number of impaired drivers.
“A lot of partying happens around Halloween, and we need to be aware that if we’re going to be out doing those sorts of things to make sure we have a sober ride home,” Dalby said.
Dalby encourages people to think of ways you can reduce traffic in your neighborhood.
“I try to make sure that I’m home before that Trick-or-Treat hour starts at 6 p.m. and then I’m parked and I’m not on the street,” she said.
If you are arriving home during trick-or-treat time, drivers should take it slow. If you’re leaving your driveway or pulling away from a curb, Dalby said you should quadruple check to be sure there are no little ones scurrying around nearby.
“Think about things, like maybe not ordering food to be delivered between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. when children are on the street,” Dalby said.
Parents are advised to make sure your kids can see and be seen. That means masks and wigs should not obstruct their view.
“So many children want to be dressed in dark costumes and be that scary person,” Dalby said. “That’s fine. But we’ve got to have some reflective tape on them. We have to give them flashlights and glow sticks and things that will make them visible.”
Make sure, also, that they’re walking on sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks in your neighborhood they should walk as close to the curb as possible on the left side. They should be facing traffic so they can see cars coming.
