AAA’s Ten Best Halloween Safety Tips

NEWS from AAA South Dakota, Oct. 19 – While Halloween is one of the most festive nights of the year for children, it also ranks among the most dangerous for young pedestrians. The Centers for Disease Control says children are four times more likely to be hit by a motor vehicle on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Motorists need to be extra cautious and watch out for spooky vampires, giggling princesses and mighty superheroes who are out trick-or-treating on neighborhood streets.

Parents can reduce the risk to their children Halloween night by following AAA’s ten best Halloween safety tips:

• Trick-or-treat while it is still light outside.
• Wear a costume that makes it easier to walk, see and be seen.
• If your kids do go out after dark, have them wear a costume that is light in color.
• Children should carry a flashlight so they can see and be seen easily.
• For additional visibility, use retro-reflective tape on costumes.
• Use makeup instead of a mask.
• Trick-or-treat in groups.
• Remind your kids to cross streets only at corners and to never cross between parked cars or mid-block.
• Have your children tell you which streets they’ll be trick-or-treating.
• If there are no sidewalks, tell your kids to always walk facing traffic and as far off the roadway as possible.

While driving through residential areas on Halloween, motorists should slow down and

watch carefully for children crossing the street. Little trick-or-treaters may not be paying attention to traffic and might cross mid-block or between parked cars. Even though South Dakota will still be on Daylight Saving Time Oct. 31, the sun will set about 6:30 p.m.