Motorists should reduce speed in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic signs and signals. Be vigilant, as kids wearing dark costumes could dart across the street at any time. Drive at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit to give yourself extra time to react.
Parents and caregivers should also review basic safety precautions with their kids, including taking it slow and looking both ways before crossing the street. Crossing at the street corner and decorating costumes with reflective tape, having kids carry glow sticks or flashlights are good tips to ensure kids are seen by motorists too.
As darkness falls, it’s vitally important that drivers and pedestrians be on guard. Visibility on the roads worsens as daylight fades to night, making the evening hours a more deadly time to be on the road. In 2015, one pedestrian was killed and 17 others injured every two hours in traffic crashes.