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Halloween Safety Tips for All Road Users

Safety / Education
Posted on

Halloween is one of the best days of the year for many kids, but it is also unfortunately the most dangerous day of the year for children walking and rolling. Pedestrians are already at higher risk of being injured or killed* during evening hours in autumn, as the skies get dark but plenty of people are still out walking and driving. Halloween introduces even more pedestrian traffic (especially excited kids!), as well as many people who are distracted or intoxicated while driving.

There are many things you can do as a caregiver, a motorist, or as a community. One of the most important things you can do is commit to not drinking and driving at all, especially on Halloween and the days surrounding it. If you see someone trying to drink and drive, please intervene.

Ways neighborhoods can help

Many neighborhoods put on great Halloween events! Some of them do events similar to what is mentioned below, like closing off several blocks to traffic during trick-or-treating. This is a great way to have a fun, traditional, and safe neighborhood experience, allowing children to experience a spooky Halloween with great decorations, but with no fear when crossing the street.

Ways motorists can help

  • Ditch the car! Try biking, walking, or taking the bus to your trick-or-treat or party destination. Fewer cars on the road helps to reduce risk (plus, you won’t have to park!). New to biking? Make sure to have a front light and rear reflector (on all bikes, including kids’), and try to take less-busy streets like residential roads. Follow all traffic laws.
  • Carpool with friends and family. This will reduce the transportation burden for everyone, put fewer cars on the road, and will add to the fun before you even get to your destination!
  • If you do drive on Halloween or the surrounding days, make sure you turn your headlights on early, drive the speed limit (or slower for conditions), and actively look out for pedestrians and people biking. If you are out driving, there’s a very good chance someone else is also on the road with you!
  • Please park more than 15 feet away from a crosswalk. This helps to “daylight” the intersection so drivers can see pedestrians — and vice-versa. If you drive a larger vehicle, please park even further back.

Ways parents & caregivers can help

  • As you’re walking, have kids stick with a buddy system for crossing the street.
  • Consider giving kids and teenagers flashlights, glow sticks, and other components to help improve their visibility. They will be distracted having fun, so additional visibility is key.
  • Bothered by how unsafe it feels for your kids to cross the street? This is a great time of year to talk to other parents and neighbors about how you might change your neighborhood for the better by requesting improvements like curb extensions, leading pedestrian intervals, and chicanes.
  • Remember — once you and your little witches and werewolves are heading home, there are still other families who are out and about. If you drove, please treat pedestrians as you would want your family to be treated.

🎃 Have a wonderful and safe spooky season! 👻

*This post is updated from the 2023 MilWALKee Walks Pedestrian Safety on Halloween post.