Weekly Safety Share #45 Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween is so fun it’s scary! Follow these safety tips and you’ll be enjoying this treasured day with your loved ones without any mishaps.
Halloween is a fun and eventful day for many Canadians of all ages. It can be dangerous too if parents, caregivers, children, and drivers don't take certain precautions.
Here are some tips and reminders to help keep everyone safe during Halloween this year:
Tips for drivers
·Watch your speed. Always obey the speed limit. In some areas on Halloween night, you may even find yourself driving below the posted speed limit. Managing your speed is essential in residential areas where children will be out trick-or-treating on Monday evening. Driving at a manageable speed will give you more time to stop in case a child runs across the street unexpectedly. Keep in mind, a vehicle travelling 30 km/hr needs about 18 metres – the length of four cars – to stop.
·Scan the road, not your phone. Distracted driving is one of the main factors in crashes involving pedestrians. Always leave your phone alone while driving. With so many children and teens out on Halloween night, it's important to stay focused on the road and be always aware of your surroundings.
·Have patience. Many drivers will be moving slowly as they watch out for trick-or-treaters. If a vehicle is slowing down or stopped in front of you, don't try to pass. The driver may be stopping to let children cross the road or for something else you can't see.
·Don't be surprised. Expect the unexpected on Halloween night. Children tend to have their minds more on treats than road safety on Halloween. Anticipate seeing children suddenly dart across the road or walking in unexpected places like driveways, alleys, and parking lots.
Tips to keep kids safe
·Be reflective and easy to see. Many costumes can be dark and hard to see for drivers at night. Encourage your child to wear a lighter-coloured costume. Add reflective tape to their outfit and treat bag and have them to use a flashlight or headlamp to help them stand out in the dark.
·Plan a safe route. The best trick-or-treat route is familiar, well established, direct, and away from busy main roads. Organize a group to trick-or-treat together. Walking in a group will make you and your children more visible to drivers.
·Don't stray from the rules of the road. When trick-or-treating with your child, always walk on sidewalks and cross at crosswalks. If there is no sidewalk, walk as far to the edge of the road as possible, facing traffic. For teens that are trick-or-treating with friends, review the rules of the road and remind them to work their way up one side of the street, instead of crossing back and forth.
Tips for adult celebrations
·Plan a safe ride home. If your Halloween celebrations involve alcohol, plan your way home before you head out for the night. Arrange for a designated driver or use other options like a taxi, ridesharing, or transit to get home safely.
·Light fireworks safely. In areas that allow the purchase of fireworks, light your fireworks in a clear, open, and safe space. Lighting fireworks on or near the road is not safe for you, pedestrians, or drivers on Halloween night.
Wishing you , your family, friends and co workers A HAPPY SAFE HALLOWEEN.