10 safety tips for Halloween night

Halloween is the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians, particularly the smaller variety, and parents and other adults should be extra vigilante to make it as safe as possible.  

AAA Arizona offers 10 tips for drivers and walkers to avoid injuries. 

“On Halloween night, it’s important that adults maintain vigilance with safety, as kids are often distracted by the excitement of the night,” said Linda Gorman, director of communications and public affairs for AAA Arizona.

 5 tips for drivers:

     Slow down. A pedestrian is more than twice as likely to be killed if they’re hit by a car traveling at 35 mph compared to 25 mph, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.  

    Buckle up. If driving trick-or-treaters, always use appropriate car and booster seats and have children exit and enter on the passenger side of the vehicle. Do not make exceptions for large or bulky costumes.  

    Keep watch. Drivers should look for children walking on streets, driveways, medians and curbs. Excited trick-or-treaters, often in dark costumes, may have reduced visibility, may not pay attention to traffic and cross mid-block or between parked cars.  

    Get home safe. If your plans involve drinking alcohol, plan ahead to get home safely.  If that plan falls through, AAA’s Tipsy Tow is available to provide a free tow and ride home for the driver, one passenger and their vehicle up to 10 miles in Arizona for free. Service will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 and run through 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 28.

     Avoid distractions, including text messaging and cell phone use, in order to keep 100 percent of your focus on safe driving.

 5 tips for parents: 

    Trick-or-treat together. Parents or caregivers should accompany young trick-or-treaters. Make a plan by mapping out the route ahead of time.

     Stay visible. Have each child carry or wear something lit, such as a flashlight, glow stick, or reflective tape in order to enhance visibility.

     Be costume smart. Avoid costumes that drag, and carry flexible props. Too-long costumes can pose a tripping hazard. Props such as swords and knives should be carried in a way that will not pose an injury hazard in the event of a fall.

    Think twice about masks. Masks can restrict breathing and obscure vision, creating safety hazard to trick-or-treaters. If your child’s costume includes a mask, consider cutting larger openings around the nose and mouth as well as the eye areas. Or, as a safer bet, skip the mask altogether and instead opt for a face full of costume makeup. 

    Discuss safety with kids. It’s easy for kids to get caught up in the excitement of trick-or-treating and forget about safety. Before setting out on Halloween night, discuss safety rules. This discussion should highlight the importance of sidewalk use and crossing the street safely. 

 For more tips to keep Halloween safe, including tips for parents and trick-or-treaters, visit AAA.com/trafficsafety.*