Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Remeber To Put Safety First On Halloween

With all the ghosts and goblins roaming the streets, Arkansas Coalition for Vehicle Choice Coordinator, Lydia Robertson, wants to remind motorists, parents and trick-or-treaters to do their part to make this Halloween safe and fun for everyone.

With the majority of trick-or-treaters being out after dark, it makes it harder for motorists to see them, especially with dark costumes. "Make sure children take off their masks when running from house to house - any kind of mask can make it harder for youngsters to see," said Ms. Robertson CVC state coordinator.

Pedestrian deaths along accounted for more then 13 percent of traffic fatalities in the United States last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Last year, 128 people were involved in traffic-related incidents on Halloween night. Of those, 35 individuals were injured fatally and 20 were categorized as pedestrians.

To avoid being a statistic, CVC recommends these tips to make Halloween night a safe one for trick-or-treaters:

• It's always better to travel in a group - besides, it's often times more fun.
• Cross the street only at intersections and not mid-block.
• Wear bright clothing - something that makes you visible to those passing by in either a care or on foot.
• Carry a flashlight - it will help you see better and make you more visible to motorists.
• Follow well-traveled paths and stay away from alleyways and shortcuts between neighborhoods.
• Make sure you look both ways before crossing streets.

• Watch your speed through neighborhoods and side streets.
• Look out for children darting in and out of cars while in costume.

"By following these tips, you can help make this Halloween both safe and fun for everyone, young and old," CVC coordinator Lydia Robertson said.