The scary truth is that kids are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween.
We teach our children about safety, stranger danger, taking candy from strangers and the buddy system, but we can’t do a lot about other drivers who forget that it’s Halloween or simply refuse to drive with caution. And many of us find ourselves in unfamiliar neighborhoods or on streets without sidewalks so our kids can fill their goodie bags to the brim.
Of course the safest way to trick or treat is with a parent, but even parents can be lulled into thinking they are safe when actually, they are not. So here are some tips to ensure everyone has a safe and happy Halloween.
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. No AI was used.
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Prep Your Kids (and Yourself) for Trick Or Treating
Kids start planning their Halloween costumes on the first day of school; that’s a great time to start talking about the evening with them, too. Make sure your kids have realistic expectations, understand the rules and are part of the safety planning. That way they’ll be more engaged in their own safety, too.
- Always accompany young kids: A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.
- Try to Trick or Treat before sundown: With Daylight Savings time falling after Halloween most families have at least an hour or two to head out before it gets too dark.
- Plan your route: Avoid areas where the sidewalks are in poor condition, choose well-lit areas and minimize street crossings; don’t trick or treat in unfamiliar areas
- 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 and give them flashlights or lighted treat buckets. Only allow children to use or wear glow sticks when they are 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.
- Bring a wagon: That way kids, even bigger kids, can ride along when they get tired; a wagon is also a great way to ensure your kids don’t run ahead and are safely on the sidewalk or in the cross walk when crossing the street.
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Make Sure Older Kids Know These Safety Tips for Trick Or Treating
Older kids relish the opportunity to trick or treat on their own and this can be a really scary moment for parents: they’re out, after dark, unsupervised and with friends; they’re probably not focused on safety first. Still, its a rite of passage and an important moment for them to learn responsibility. Here are some tips to prepare for this big moment:
- 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!
- Put the phones away: This goes for the kids and grown-ups. Halloween is a time to be hyper-vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Phones should be used safely and only when absolutely necessary.
- Keep your child’s location turned on: You probably have this turned on for their daytime activities, make sure it’s on while they’re out trick or treading
- 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.
- Make sure they use the buddy system: Find a friend to trick or treat with ensure all kids are commited to staying together
Read: Tips and Tools for Teen Driver Safety
Look Out For Hidden Dangers — In Costumes and Along the Route
Who knew that glow sticks, which are so helpful in keeping kids visible, can be really dangerous if they crack and leak. In fact, its not that uncommon for a kid to crack it open and try to drink the liquid, leading to a visit to the ER. What other dangers should you look out for?
- Candles or flames in jack-o-lanterns: Whispy, wafty costumes can catch fire; don’t put live candles in pumpkins or anywhere near where kids in costumes can come in contact with them.
- Watch out for yard decorations such as spider webs or fake gravestones that can cause a child to trip and fall.
- Ensure costumes fit properly and that a child or others in the group won’t trip on them.
- Make sure masks don’t block vision or breathing: Masks are generally not a great idea because of the visibility issue but sometimes as a parent you just can’t fight that battle. Be sure to fit the mask tightly, cut the eye holes wider if necessary and look for signs that kids in masks are struggling to see.
- Check all candy before letting kids dig in: This is an age-old warning but still a good one. Mostly we want to know there are no allergens or signs of tampering, and it’s usually a good idea to stay away from home-made treats from someone you don’t know.
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Out On the Road This Year? Tips to be Extra Safe
Going to Trunk or Treats, Halloween parties and other activities has become ever more popular over the years. That means that we find ourselves coming eye to eye with ghosts and goblins as we make our way to events and home again. Here are some tips for drivers:
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs
- Enter and exit driveways, parking lots and alleys carefully
- Slow down and watch for children or pedestrians in dark clothing
- Make eye contact with pedestrians—be sure they know you see them and are waiting for them to cross the street
- Keep your bright lights on until you see pedestrians or other drivers
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For a Bit More Inspo, Halloween Can Hold Some Scary Stats
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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And of Course, Don’t Drink and Drive
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.
And Then, Have Fun Out There!
Halloween is one of the best holidays of the year; it’s fun, creative and joyful, and everyone gets to participate. Stay safe, keep your kids and neighbors safe and … have a Happy Halloween!
