It’s that time again. The leaves and the temperatures are falling, anticipation for trick-or-treating is rising, and spooky decorations are everywhere. It’s Halloween! A time for kids to put on adorable costumes while getting goodies from the neighborhood and a time for adults to dress up and party. Halloween is a time to have fun. But you should also know that it’s a time to be alert so that you can keep you and your family safe.
By following the tips below, you can help keep your Halloween safe and memorable.
- Make sure that kids only accept treats in the doorway of each home
- Obey all traffic rules
- Avoid masks and opt for face paint instead
- Use glowsticks or flashlights
- Only walk on sidewalks
- Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering
- Make sure costumes are comfortable and fit well
- Only buy flame-resistant costumes
- Go to houses that have their lights on
- Wear bright-colored costumes
- Limit accessories
If your children are old enough to trick-or-treat without you, here are some additional tips to help keep them safe:
- Keep track of your children with an app
- Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends
- Agree on a specific time they should return home
- Cross the street at the crosswalk
- Don’t walk near lit candles or luminaries
- Never cut across yards or use alleys
- Plan a familiar route
Children must be aware of cars that may not see them at night. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 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.
You can do your part to help keep these numbers down by following some of the tips below.
Halloween Safety Tips For Drivers
The National Safety Council offers these additional safety tips for parents – and anyone who plans to be on the road during trick-or-treat hours:
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing
- Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween
- Watch for children running and crossing the streets
- Drive slowly where trick-or-treating is going on
- Use turn signals
Be sure to drive hands free. Keep cell phones and other handheld devices in the car, but not in your hands. It is important to stay alert on Halloween because you are not only watching for excited children but drunk drivers, as well. NHTSA officials note that on Halloween evening, 48 percent of crash-related fatalities involve a drunk driver. If you plan on drinking, please don’t drive. Ask a sober friend to drive you home, take a cab, or use a ride share service such as Lyft or Uber.
Being safe during Halloween is everyone’s responsibility. Have fun, but be sure to be safe.
If you need reliable car insurance, contact Freeway Insurance today. Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect yourself and your vehicle. Car accidents tend to rise during any holiday, so make sure you are protected. Freeway offers cheap car insurance for all drivers. Call (800) 777-5620 for a free car insurance quote.
