COLUMBUS, Ohio – The ghosts, witches and zombies may be all in fun, but the real-life risks associated with Hallowe’en are enough to send chills down the spine of any trick-or-treater’s parent.
EXTRA: Community trick-or-treat schedule
A new safety analysis by the Ohio Department of Transportation found the likelihood of pedestrians and bicyclists getting hit by a vehicle increases 35 percent during the last seven days of October and a child is four times more likely to be hit and killed by a car on “Beggar’s Night” than any other time, according to Dawne Gardner, Injury Prevention Coordinator at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Cut
“Kids are so excited, and they’re darting across the street, and they’re really not paying attention and there are more cars out and more kids out and it’s dark and costumes are dark, so we definitely see an increased number of pedestrian injuries, pedestrian deaths,” she said.
The new five-year ODOT safety study reviewed crash data for the last week of October. The agency’s safety experts say the increase can be attributed in part to drivers’ limited vision and depth perception at dusk, when most trick-or-treaters are on the street and the large concentration of children walking and repeatedly crossing the road at locations other than crosswalks or intersections.
Safety experts offer these tips:
Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters:
1. Stay on the sidewalk
2. Look both ways before you cross the street AND only cross the street at intersections
3. Remember to trick-or-treat in groups and help each other follow pedestrian safety laws
4. Make sure your costumes are visible to motorists
5. Carry a flashlight
Safety Tips for Drivers:
1. Pedestrians have the right of way
2. Drive with headlights on
3. Reduce speed
4. Be especially careful at intersections
5. Avoid distractions like cell phones
Gardner says children under the age of 12 should trick-or-treat with an adult.
When it comes to the costume, she says there are also some things to keep in mind, including proper fit to avoid a trip hazard, using make-up instead of masks to improve vision and making sure that the costumes are non-flammable.
Gardner also recommends that the kids eat before they head out so they don’t try to binge on candy before it can be checked by an adult at home.