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Every year children look forward to dressing up for Halloween and participating in the age-old custom of trick-or-treating. However, the risk of children being injured by motorists increases greatly according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA reports that Halloween is consistently one of the top three days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) further estimates that children are four times more likely to be struck by a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year. 

HalloweenSafety.com, in its Halloween Safety Guide (October 2016), says that in many areas, people drive their kids into subdivisions and let them out to walk from house to house with an adult following behind in a vehicle. This practice can cause traffic jams in small areas and confusion as children dart between cars on the streets going from house to house. A driver is already distracted because they are trying to keep an eye on their own kids and  may not be paying attention to much else. 

Parental Tips: 

The National Safety Council recommends that parents help keep their children safe from motorists by: 

• Fastening reflective tape to their costumes and bags to make sure they are visible. 
• Choosing face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision. 
• Having children carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.  

Motorist Tips: 

SafeKids.org reminds motorists to drive with extra caution: 

• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing. 
• Watch for children darting into the street. Kids can cross the street anywhere, and most young pedestrian deaths happen at spots other than intersections. 
• Yield to young pedestrians. Children might not stop, either because they don't see your vehicle approaching or don't know how to safely cross the street. 
• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. 
• Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. 
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully. 
• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings. 
• Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances. 

“The most popular time for trick or treating in most neighborhoods is 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. These are the times when everyone needs to be most watchful for children. However, these are not the only times when young people may be out. Drivers have a responsibility to be always vigilant when driving,” said Fort Myers Pedestrian Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Pedestrian Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.