Halloween is a fun night for kids to be out in Oak Park or Chicago. Unfortunately, children who are out trick-or-treating face significant risks. A personal injury lawyer knows that there are more child pedestrian accidents on Halloween than any other day of the year. Parents need to be aware of the dangers of collisions and should discuss road safety with their kids. Children under the age of 12 should also trick-or-treat only when accompanied by an adult.
Safety Tips for Halloween
Safe Kids Worldwide has provided a number of important safety tips to help kids avoid the risks of collision on Halloween night. To stay safe, it is important for:
- Children to cross the street at corners only, and never in the middle of the block. Data from State Farm shows that the majority of child pedestrian accidents on Halloween night occur in the middle of the block. This is usually because excited kids run out in between vehicles and are struck by cars.
- Children to look both ways when crossing. Kids should put down electronic devices and should look both ways before crossing the road and as they move across.
- Children to make eye contact with drivers prior to crossing in front of a vehicle.
- Kids to walk on paths or sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks available, children should be taught to walk facing traffic. It is also a good idea for kids to walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
- Children to watch for vehicles that are backing up or turning. Parents should stress the importance of never running out onto the road in between vehicles.
- Children to wear safe costumes. Wearing face paint instead of masks helps to avoid obstructed vision, while brightly colored costumes can make a child more visible to other vehicles that are passing by.
Parents should go over these rules with their children before kids head out to go trick or treating. If a child is under age 12, he or she should go out with a parent only and should not be on the streets alone at night. Unfortunately, even older kids face the risk of getting hurt on Halloween. State Farm data on pedestrian accidents has revealed that kids in the age group of 12 to 15 are most likely to be involved in pedestrian collisions on Halloween.
While parents and kids need to do their part to keep young people safe, it is also important for drivers to exercise caution as well. More than double the number of child pedestrians are killed on Halloween each year compared with other days of the year. Drivers need to be aware that kids will be out trick or treating and should slow down in residential neighborhoods and take the time to look for children at intersections and on medians.
If drivers, parents and kids all recognize the risks of Halloween and make a commitment to stay safe, hopefully fewer lives can be lost this year and everyone can enjoy the holiday.
A Chicago, IL accident attorney can help after an injury. Call Coplan & Crane at 800-394-6002 to schedule your free consultation.
