Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween Safety Tips

A big thanks to Gerri DiSalvo, Traffic Safety Coordinator of the AAA Northeast Office, for providing me with the following information to keep our community safe.

Every year, Halloween is named one of the top three most dangerous days of the year for pedestrians. As days get shorter, it becomes harder for motorists to see pedestrians walking during dusk and evening hours, which is when most crash-related pedestrian fatalities occur.

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which means there may be a weekend full of celebrations, not just for children, but also for adult revelers. Oct. 31 is one of the most dangerous nights of the year due to the combination of increased pedestrian traffic and adult party-goers who may be consuming alcohol. According to NHTSA, in 2012, almost half (48 percent) of all crash fatalities on Halloween involved a drunk driver, compared to 31 percent on an average day that year. More than 28 percent of Halloween crash fatalities were pedestrians, compared to 14 percent on the average day.

To help reduce the risks of pedestrian incidents, Download our free Halloween Activity Sheets and Bookmarks for children. These items are also available at your local AAA branch throughout October.

AAA offers these tips to parents and their children on Halloween:

• Be bright at night; use reflective tape on costumes and treat bags, wear light colors and carry flashlights and glow sticks for extra visibility.
• Don’t wear a costume that obstructs vision.
• Wear a costume you can walk in – comfortable footwear and nothing that drags on the ground.
• Look all ways and listen for traffic before crossing streets and driveways.
• Younger children should always be accompanied by an adult or trustworthy teen; older children should be given boundaries and should communicate with their parents along the way.

AAA suggests the following tips for motorists on Halloween:

• Try to avoid cutting through residential areas where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present
• Obey all traffic signs and signals and travel with extreme caution in residential areas.
• Scan far ahead and watch attentively for children who may be excitedly running from house to house or crossing at unexpected places.
• Avoid driving distractions, even after traditional trick-or-treat hours – older children and teens may be out without adult supervision.
• As always, find an alternative to driving under the influence of alcohol – get a designated driver, call a taxi or stay put.

Any other questions or concerns feel free to contact
Gerri DiSalvo
Traffic Safety Program Coordinator
AAA Northeast | 1415 Kellum Place | Garden City, NY 11530
T 516-873-2377 |F 516-873-2355
gdisalvo@aaanortheast.com