Safety experts team up to protect trick-or-treaters


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THE STREETS — While it’s important to worry about safety year-round, children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.

This Halloween season, State Farm teamed up with Safe Kids Worldwide to create tips and pointers for both pedestrians and drivers to ensure children’s safety as they trick-or-treat.

"It can ... be a scary night for pedestrians and drivers trying to navigate through neighborhoods ... in the dark. While the following tips are helpful on any day ... be especially alert on Halloween and designated times in the community when trick-or-treat is taking place," according to State Farm.

For those accompanying their children through the neighborhood on foot, State Farm recommends holding hands, using crosswalks and looking both ways. They also stress the importance of employing a flashlight in darker areas and having children wear reflective tape or bright-colored clothes to make them more visible to drivers.

“Use sidewalks. If you must walk on the street, keep to the far left, facing traffic,” according to State Farm.

While this Halloween might not be an ideal time to wear a creepy clown mask, State Farm exhorts trick-or-treaters to abandon the masks altogether and opt for face paint instead. Masks may obstruct children’s vision and pose a hazard in the dark.

(Photo: State Farm)

Drivers should also exercise just as much, if not more, caution than pedestrians, especially in residential areas.

Since kids will be running in between parked cars and across the street on Halloween, drivers should be alert and vigilant at corners and intersections and pay extra attention while backing up.

Halloween night is also a crucial time to put down smartphones, turn off the radio and eliminate distractions to maximize safety for all children.

“Drive slowly … (and) leave early," State Farm reported. "From school and local park district activities to neighborhood and family parties, Halloween can be an action-packed day. Leave yourself plenty of time so you don't have to rush. Ten or 15 extra minutes can make a big difference."


Liesl is a student at Brigham Young University and currently works as a news writing intern for KSL.com. You can email her at lieslnielsen@gmail.com.

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