Halloween is one of the deadliest nights of the year for pedestrians, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Trick-or-treaters and their families walk the streets during the dimmest and darkest hours of the day, creating a dangerous situation for pedestrians and motorists alike. Between the hours of 4:00 PM and midnight, the chances of being hit by a car increase by about 20% due to decreased visibility. With the number of people walking about on Halloween night, those odds are even more unfavorable for pedestrians.
Here are several tips to keep you and your loved ones safe on Halloween night.
DRIVER SAFETY
Avoid driving through neighborhoods or taking shortcuts where small children are likely to be trick-or-treating. Stick to the highways and main roads when possible.
Keep an eye out for trick-or-treaters and people in costumes who may be less visible in dim or dark conditions. Children may dart out from behind parked cars, or run across the street to the next house without looking.
Slow down! Decreasing your speed by 10 mph can mean the difference between life and death for a pedestrian. Be alert and conscious of your speed, and drive slowly through residential areas.
Designate a sober driver if you plan on attending any Halloween parties. Drunk drivers contribute to nearly 33% of all auto accident deaths.
TRICK-OR-TREATER SAFETY
Never let your children trick-or-treat alone. Always go with a group, with an adult chaperone or a responsible person over the age of 12. Groups of trick-or-treaters are much easier for drivers to see.
Plan ahead and make sure the trick-or-treating route is familiar to everyone to reduce the chances of anyone getting lost. Remind children of proper safety precautions and ensure they know to not cross the street without adult supervision.
Costume safety is very important. Make sure your children’s costumes have some sort of reflective element that will be easily visible in the dark. Disguises should not obstruct vision or make it difficult for children to walk.
Buckle up if you plan on driving from one neighborhood to the next. No matter how short the drive, children and adults should always use proper car seats and seat belts when traveling on Halloween night.
For more Halloween safety tips and statistics, you can visit AAA.com/PublicAffairs .
If you or a loved one were a pedestrian involved in an auto accident, seek medical treatment immediately. You can discuss your rights and options as an injured pedestrian with the experienced legal team at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, who has helped over 40,000 injured people get the compensation they deserve. Contact us day or night for a free case evaluation . We can meet you in Charleston, Greenville, Columbia, Orangeburg, or anywhere in South Carolina to help you in your time of need.