TZD Tuesday - Halloween Safety

The fun of Halloween is just days away, but spooky costumes and candy corn can cause dangerous situations for drivers and pedestrians. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Low light partnered with costumes can make it difficult for drivers to see people and Halloween masks can make it difficult for trick-or-treaters to see vehicles.

We often think about the safety of pedestrians on Halloween, but drivers and passengers are also at greater risk if they don’t follow these simple steps.

AAA Tips for Drivers:

• Remain seated and buckled. Everyone in the vehicle should remain seated and buckled at all times, even when parked on the side of the road.
• Designate a navigator. If you need to check a map, take pictures, or do anything that will take your attention off the road, pull over or delegate those tasks to a passenger.
• If you are driving, focus on driving. Even going just a few miles over the speed limit in a residential neighborhood greatly increases the dangers for cyclists and pedestrians sharing the road.
• Keep an eye out for trick-or-treaters. Pedestrians can be very unpredictable, especially children. Be on the lookout for children’s shoes or costumes under vehicles that might be crossing the street between parked cars.

AAA Trick-or-Treat Tips:

• Be visible. Light-colored clothing or costumes provide the best visibility to motorists. Add reflective material or tape to costumes to increase visibility. Use a glow stick or flashlight to increase the chance of seeing and being seen by drivers.
• Cross the street responsibly. Use traffic signals and crosswalks. Look both ways before crossing and keep an eye on the road while crossing. Do not cross mid-block or run out between parked cars.
• Don’t walk distracted. Stay alert and avoid checking your phone while walking or supervising children.
• Stay on sidewalks. If no sidewalks are available, always walk facing traffic and stay as far to the left of the roadway as possible.

Whether you are a driver, passenger or pedestrian this Halloween, use extra caution to ensure everyone makes it home safely. Working together, we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths!