Avoiding pedestrian accidents this Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner which means the streets of New Haven will soon be filled with costumed trick-or-treaters, especially since the holiday falls on a Friday this year. While Halloween is associated with fun and candy, it can also be very dangerous.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween is one of the most common three days of the year for pedestrian accidents and fatalities. For that reason, trick-or-treaters, parents and motorists must make safety a priority. 

Here are some important safety tips to follow from The AAA Exchange:

Tips for trick-or-treaters:

• Wear a bright costume and consider attaching reflective tape to your costume so that you are visible to motorists.
• Make sure your costume doesn’t obstruct your vision or cause you to trip.
• Bring a flashlight, but don’t shine it into the eyes of motorists.
• Stay on the sidewalk. If there are no sidewalks, stay on the left side of the road facing traffic.
• Only cross streets at the corner and make sure to look both ways.
• Trick-or-treat with a group and let your parents know exactly where you are going.

Tips for parents:

• A parent should supervise trick-or-treaters under the age of 12.
• Make sure children know what route to take and when they should be home.
• Discuss the above tips for trick-or-treaters with your children and review traffic laws.

Tips for drivers:

• Stay on the lookout for pedestrians as foot-traffic will be heavy all weekend.
• Drive cautiously and follow posted speed limits, especially in areas where you know trick-or-treaters will be.
• Use your headlights, even before it’s dark, to be more visible to pedestrians.
• If you plan on drinking at a Halloween party, make sure to plan a sober ride home in advance. Drunk driving accidents are often fatal and can result in serious consequences