Halloween Safety Tips for Children, Families, and Drivers

A few simple precautions can help everyone be safe and be seen this Halloween.

As children and families head outdoors for trick-or-treating, traffic, unfamiliar surroundings, and hard-to-see costumes can create safety concerns. Whether you live in town or in rural areas, Halloween safety matters.

Make Children Easier to See

Visibility is especially important after sunset. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more than twice as likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other average day.

Parents can help their children stand out by adding reflective tape or stickers to costumes and treat bags. Flashlights and glow sticks can also make children easier for drivers to see. Whenever possible, choose costumes with bright or light-colored material.

Costumes should also fit properly. Clothing that is too long or cumbersome can cause children to trip, while masks may make it harder to see approaching vehicles and other hazards. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using non-toxic face paint or decorative hats instead of masks that interfere with vision.

Practice Safe Trick-or-Treating

Before children leave home, remind them of basic pedestrian safety:

• Walk on sidewalks when available
• Cross streets at intersections or crosswalks whenever possible
• Look left, right, and left again to check for traffic before crossing a street.

In rural neighborhoods or areas without sidewalks, families should be especially cautious. Walk where you can see approaching traffic and where drivers have the best opportunity to see you. Avoid unexpectedly entering the roadway from between parked vehicles, driveways, or other areas where visibility is limited.

Younger children should trick-or-treat with a responsible adult. Older children should travel in a group, follow an agreed-upon route, and know when they’re expected home.

Drivers Have a Role, Too

Halloween safety does not depend solely on trick-or-treaters. Drivers can make the evening safer by slowing down and paying close attention in residential areas.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reminds drivers that children may appear suddenly or in unexpected places. Drivers should scan roads carefully, watch near intersections and parked vehicles, and expect more pedestrians than usual.

On Halloween night, avoid driving through residential and other areas where trick-or-treaters may be present. As always, drivers should put away phones and other distractions.  These extra precautions can make an important difference.

Keep Halloween Fun

Halloween should be a night filled with costumes, laughter, and fun—not preventable injuries. The Moultrie County Health Department encourages all participants and drivers to make visibility and pedestrian safety part of the evening's plans.

Before heading out, parents can take a few minutes to check costumes, provide a flashlight or glow stick, and review planned routes and traffic-safety rules. Drivers can slow down and be especially cautious if traveling through areas where families may be trick-or-treating.

Happy Halloween and remember: Be Safe. Be Seen.

Additional Halloween Safety Tips:

Tricks to Make Halloween Treats Safer for Our Kids
Halloween Treats and Safety