LOGAN – With children expected to fill neighborhood streets Saturday for Halloween trick-or-treating, the American Red Cross Northern Utah Chapter is urging motorists, parents and young pedestrians to take extra precautions to prevent accidents.
Halloween can be an especially dangerous night for pedestrians as excited children move from house to house and drivers navigate busy neighborhoods after dark.
According to research published in JAMA Pediatrics, the risk of pedestrian fatalities is 43% higher on Halloween than on other evenings. The study analyzed 42 years of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data and found that children ages 4 to 8 are 10 times more likely to be struck by a vehicle and killed on Halloween than on other evenings.
Michael Smauldon, executive director of the American Red Cross Northern Utah Chapter, said children can become distracted by the excitement of the holiday and forget to watch for traffic.
“Kids are excited about Halloween, and it’s easy for them to forget about the cars around them,” Smauldon said. “We want families to enjoy trick-or-treating and get home safely. A few simple precautions can help prevent a serious accident.”
The danger is greatest around dusk and early evening, particularly near 6 p.m., when many children are out trick-or-treating and fading daylight makes them harder for drivers to see. Children may also cross streets unexpectedly or emerge from between parked vehicles.
The Red Cross encourages drivers to slow down in residential areas, remain alert for pedestrians and take extra care at intersections and crosswalks. Motorists should put away their phones, turn on headlights at dusk and allow extra time to watch for children.
Whenever possible, drivers should consider avoiding neighborhoods with heavy pedestrian traffic between 6 and 9 p.m. The Red Cross also reminds motorists never to drive while impaired and to arrange a designated driver or another safe ride home when necessary.
Parents and children can take steps to make trick-or-treating safer, too. The Red Cross recommends wearing reflective clothing, carrying flashlights or glow sticks and walking rather than running between homes.
Children should cross streets at intersections or crosswalks and avoid darting out from between parked cars. They should use sidewalks whenever possible. Where sidewalks are unavailable, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
Costumes should fit properly and allow children to see clearly. Face paint may be a safer alternative to masks that obstruct vision. Parents should also check weather conditions and dress children appropriately for the evening temperatures.
The Red Cross advises families to limit distractions by putting away phones and paying attention to traffic while walking or supervising children.