Last year, over 72 million children throughout the U.S. celebrated trick-or-treat during the Halloween season. Unfortunately, scary statistics exist regarding child safety. Since trick-or-treat predominately occurs in the evening, motorists may have difficulty seeing excited children running into dimly lit streets while traveling from house to house.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more than twice as likely to be fatally struck by vehicles during Halloween than on any other day of the year.
Trunk-or-Treat
As an alternative to (or concurrent with) trick-or-treat festivities, some communities host “trunk-or-treat” events—where families or local businesses meet in a designated spot and pass out candy to costume-clad children from their vehicles or stations.
Whether celebrating trick-(or trunk-)-or treat routines, consider the following safety tips when traveling to-and-from your favorite treat destination.
Pedestrians
- Plan your route beforehand to ensure safe travel throughout the day.
- Add reflective tape to your child’s Halloween costume or candy bag to increase their visibility.
- Chaperone young trick-or-treaters and only cross at crosswalks or street corners and watch for crossing guards to safely escort groups. Avoid splitting up.
- Stay in clearly lit areas while avoiding yards. Walking on people’s lawns while wearing a costume increases the likelihood of tripping, especially as you navigate around their decorations.
- Walk, don’t run, between houses. Never run out or zigzag back and forth across the street.
- Ensure you can see in your costume! Some masks limit visibility, so consider face paint instead.
- Set safety rules and expectations with your young trick-or-treater(s) before beginning your Halloween adventure.
Drivers
- Be aware when trick-or-treat is observed in your area and watch your speed! Children tend to run out into the street without paying attention to cars.
- Watch for pedestrians crossing the street or between parked cars. Take extra time at intersections.
- Enter and exit the driveway carefully.
- Turn on headlights in the day to spot kids.
- Put down your phone and avoid distractions. Many communities increase fire and police presence during Halloween festivities—remain vigilant and follow all traffic laws.
Visit the NHTSA website for more driver, pedestrian, and party host tips to enjoy Halloween safely this season.