Safe routes to... Candy!

Published on October 04, 2023

It is October and that means Halloween is almost here! If your children are like most, they are eagerly anticipating trick-or-treating around the neighborhood and walking door-to-door to get the best candy.

Though Halloween is a spooky holiday that is fun for children and adults alike, it should not be a scare when it comes to your family’s safety. With a little planning, parents can ensure their little ghouls and goblins stay safe while taking to the streets on Halloween night.

First, when planning your trick-or-treating route, consider direct routes with few street crossings and:

• Ample street lighting
• Sidewalks
• Crosswalks and traffic signals at intersections

If you allow your children to trick-or-treat without you, remind them to cross streets at marked crosswalks and street corners, not dart into streets, and limit the use of cell phones.

When it comes to the night of trick-or-treating, consider the following:

• Use face paint instead of masks, which could obstruct your child’s vision
• Ensure costumes are appropriately sized to avoid trip hazards
• Have your children wear lighter-colored costumes, reflective tape or stickers on their costumes and candy bags, or glow sticks
• Carry flashlights to illuminate the path ahead
• Remind your children to look left, right, then left again and make eye contact with drivers before crossing streets

Finally, if you must drive somewhere on Halloween, drive slower than usual (especially in residential neighborhoods), turn on your headlights earlier in the day, and enter and exit driveways slowly and carefully.