All of the scariest movies in the world don’t add up to the fear I have for something happening to my daughter on Halloween.
While we won’t be trick-or-treating yet this year (I don’t think my 20-month-old needs any additional sugar!) here are some tips for parents and children braving Halloween:
- Children under 12 should trick-or-treat and cross streets with an adult.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Parents should remind children to watch for cars that are turning or backing up.
- Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
For drivers, Halloween is also scary because so many children are walking. Take extra special precautions:
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day so you can spot children from greater distances.
- Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle.
- Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.