Story written by Lauren Casio

Next Sunday, the ghosts and ghouls will come out as children around the country enjoy a spook-tacular night of candy, family and friends. However, the reality of Halloween can be quite different. For one night only, child foot traffic in America’s neighborhoods is significantly increased. According to a study reported in TIME magazine, children are more than twice as likely to be killed by a car while walking on Halloween night than at any other time of the year.

Photo Credit: Image by stevendepolo via Flicker

Here are five ways that you as a driver can make Halloween safer for the children in your area:

1. Stay under the speed limit- It’s there for a reason!

According to the Gene Farber, a consultant for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian visibility drops from thousands of feet in the daytime to only 150-250 ft at night. Going 55mph, the distance required for a driver with typical reaction time to react and stop is 265ft. Nationwide, residential speed limits can vary, but many range from 15-25mph for this exact reason. When in doubt, caution can keep everyone safe.

2. Children+ Candy + Crazy Outfits= Confused pedestrians

Sure, some of the responsibility for child safety on Halloween lies on the shoulders of those little monsters, vampires and princesses running around, getting as much candy as possible in such a short time. But keep in mind that, while the typical child would most likely stop and look both ways if their ball rolled into the street, a child chasing a part of their precious costume that blew off may not be as aware. Masks can drastically reduce peripheral vision, and so that little zombie on the corner may not see you coming and may cross anyways.

3. Caution: Parked vehicles!

Maintain caution while passing cars parked on the side of the road. These cars make perfect barriers from which little monsters can emerge at any time! Being aware and maintaining a slow speed is the best way to protect from any unexpected horrors this Halloween.

4. Don’t rely only on your headlights alone!

According to Frank Schieber, a consultant for the NHTSA on nighttime visual requirements, roadside pedestrians “represent the worst case scenario” for drivers. They are non-reflective, low contrast objects that can have horrible consequences if they are hit. NHTSA-funded studies compared the efficiency of high-beam headlights compared with low-beam and found that while high beams are marginally better at detecting pedestrians, the glare emitted can be disorienting to the pedestrian. The NHTSA recommends keeping high-beams on until pedestrians are spotted.

5. Avoid driving in early evening hours

Most child safety organizations recommend being prepared for trick-or-treaters from 5:30-9:30pm. Many neighborhood organizations have recommended trick-or-treat times for different age levels. Check your city government’s website for official recommended trick-or-treat times for your area so you can know when the little ones may be running around.

What tips/tricks did we miss? Let us know in the comments below!

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