The major dangers at Halloween are not from ghosts and goblins, but from falls and pedestrian/vehicle collisions.
Halloween means many things to many people. For some, it is an opportunity to play practical jokes; for others, it is fun; and to still others, it is a time to gorge on mounds of sweets solicited from neighbours. However to road safety professionals, Halloween is often a tense time of year, a time when pranks cross the line into life endangering activities, and when innocent children having fun and seeking treats can fall victim to road collisions.
Their costumes may be out of this world, but their mode of travel is strictly down to earth. Trick-or-treaters face significantly greater than usual risks from traffic as they make their rounds on foot. The road safety officer for Mayo County Council urges adults to review common sense guidelines with children to protect them from pedestrian injuries and falls, the most common risks they face on Halloween.
“The excitement of trick-or-treating can make everyone less cautious,” said road safety officer Noel Gibbons. “To help keep children safe, parents should remind their kids about the rules of the road and ensure they will be seen by drivers this Halloween.”
Young children are at special risk for pedestrian injury because they face traffic risks that exceed their developmental abilities, for example, the ability to accurately judge the speed and distance of oncoming traffic.
The road safety officer recommends that an adult or older sibling accompany children under age 12 while trick-or-treating. In addition, the road safety officer offers the following recommendations:
“Visibility: The end of daylight savings time means that children are more likely to be trick-or-treating in the dark when it is harder for drivers to see them. Children should bring flashlights or glow sticks with them, carry reflective bags, or attach retro-reflective tape, fabric, or decorative patches to costumes.
“Traffic: Review basic pedestrian safety rules, including where and how to cross the road. Teach kids never to dart out into the street or road - one of the most common causes of pedestrian deaths among children. Drivers should be particularly alert on Halloween and watch for children on the street, in alleys, and crossing the road.”
Although Halloween is meant to be spooky and fun, it is also important to keep it safe for your children, your friends, and yourself.
