The Scariest Thing On Halloween? Traffic. Here Are Safety Tips For Trick-or-Treating

And then, there’s this: Children are more than twice as likely to be killed by a car on Halloween. And, they’re four times more likely to be hit.

National Safety Council research found that kids darting into the road is one of the leading causes of pedestrian deaths or injuries, and kids aged 5 to 9 account for 70% of those accidents.

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A fun evening is a priority, but a trip to the emergency room, or worse, ruins the fun for everyone. Knowing the dangers and how to avoid them is the first step in a successful evening. So, here is what you need to know about the dangers and how to keep yourself and your kids—of all ages—safe on Halloween.

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Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that between 2009 and 2013, 43 percent of all motor vehicle deaths occurring on Halloween night resulted from a drunken driving-related crash.

Yes, glow sticks make kids visible to motorists, but Dr. Henry Spiller, director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children’s, cites them in a US News report as a top cause for emergency room visits after ingesting the liquid inside.

Don’t let the stats get you down. Here are safety tips for little kids to enjoy Halloween—safely:

• Always accompany young kids: A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.
• Plan your route: Avoid areas where the sidewalks are in poor condition, choose well-lit areas and minimize street crossings.
• Use crosswalks: 70% of Halloween pedestrian accidents occur outside of a crosswalk or crossing intersection. You’ll avoid much of the risk by crossing only in designated places.
• Make sure kids are visible: If the kids are going to be out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags. Only use glow sticks on children old enough to understand the concerns with breaking them.
• Look for the porch light: Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

They love their independence but adult supervision is still important; here are tips for the safety of older kids:

• Review the route and rules: If your older children are going out alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable, set ground rules (no going off route, no stopping at friends houses) and designate a curfew that you’ll enforce!
• Don’t walk and text: This goes for the kids and grown-ups. Halloween is a time to be hyper-vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
• Make eye contact with drivers: Don’t assume the driver sees you and will yield the right-of-way.
• Walk, don’t run: It’s easy to get carried away with all the Halloween fun. Make sure your kids know the dangers of darting into the street during a game of chase.

Being behind the wheel on Halloween can be frightening, too. Be sure to:

• 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
• Make eye contact with pedestrians—be sure they know you see them and are waiting for them to cross the street

Trick-or-treating is fun, whether it’s going door to door or at a community trunk or treat. Let’s keep it that way. Happy Halloween!