Halloween Safety Tips: Bright Costumes, Slow Drivers and a Plan Before Trick-or-Treating Saturday

MOBILE, Ala. — With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year and trick-or-treaters expected out across south Alabama, families and drivers alike are being urged to make a plan before the festivities begin. A handful of simple Halloween safety tips can go a long way toward keeping the night fun, from bright costumes and flashlights to slower driving through neighborhoods.

The reminders come as darkness arrives earlier each evening. The sun will set around 6 p.m. on Halloween night, meaning much of the trick-or-treating will happen at dusk or after dark, when children are hardest for drivers to see.

Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters

The most important advice is also the simplest: young children should always be accompanied by an adult, and whenever possible, families should trick-or-treat as a group. Groups are easier for drivers to see, and an adult can help children make good decisions about where to walk and when to cross.

Here are key tips for those walking door to door:

• Stay with a grown-up. Young children should always have an adult with them. If possible, go in a group.
• Walk smart where there are no sidewalks. Walk facing traffic and stay as far off the road as possible.
• Be seen. Wear reflective clothing if possible, or choose bright costumes, and carry a flashlight while walking.
• Stick to familiar territory. Stay in areas you know and try to visit homes where you know the person or family who lives there.
• Never go inside. Do not enter a stranger’s home or car.
• Choose well-lit homes. Only go to homes that are well lit.

Making costumes safer

Visibility is the thread that runs through nearly all Halloween safety advice. Dark costumes such as witches, ninjas and superheroes can be nearly invisible to a driver at dusk. Adding reflective tape to costumes and treat bags, or carrying glow sticks along with a flashlight, can help children stand out in headlights.

Federal transportation safety officials also recommend choosing face paint over masks when possible, because masks can block a child’s vision, particularly side vision needed to spot approaching cars. Costumes should fit well enough that children will not trip over long hems or capes, and shoes should be comfortable enough for a long walk.

Crossing streets safely

National safety guidance urges pedestrians to cross at corners and crosswalks, obey traffic signals, and look left, right and left again before stepping into the street, continuing to watch for cars while crossing. Children should not dart out from between parked cars, and adults should remind them that drivers may not see them even if they can see the car.

Headphones and phones are distractions for walkers, too. Older children and teens who trick-or-treat without an adult should keep their eyes up and their phones in their pockets while moving between houses.

Advice for drivers on Halloween night

Drivers carry a big share of the responsibility for a safe Halloween. Here are reminders for anyone behind the wheel:

• Slow down in neighborhoods. Drive slowly through residential areas and watch for children crossing unexpectedly.
• Put the phone away. Never drive distracted or impaired.
• Turn on headlights early. Using headlights early makes pedestrians easier to see. With sunset around 6 p.m., the evening will darken quickly.

Federal safety guidance adds that drivers should take extra care when pulling into or backing out of driveways and alleys, where small children can be hard to spot, and should keep windshields, mirrors and wipers in good working order for nighttime visibility.

Never drive impaired

Halloween has also become a night of adult parties, and that brings a serious risk on the roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns every year that Halloween night is especially dangerous because of drunk driving, and its data show that pedestrians are among those killed in alcohol-related crashes on the holiday.

The agency’s message is simple: buzzed driving is drunk driving. Anyone who plans to drink should arrange a sober ride before the party starts, whether that means a designated driver, a rideshare or a taxi. Party hosts can help by offering nonalcoholic drinks and making sure guests have a safe way home. Anyone who sees a driver who appears impaired should call 911 when it is safe to do so.

Walking while impaired is risky as well. Adults who have been drinking should have a sober friend walk with them, just as they would arrange a sober driver.

Tips for homeowners handing out candy

Residents who plan to welcome trick-or-treaters can help keep visitors safe, too. Keep porches, walkways and steps well lit. A clear path to the front door, free of garden hoses, extension cords for decorations, and other tripping hazards, is just as important.

Pets should be kept inside and away from the door, where the constant ringing of the doorbell and unfamiliar costumes can frighten even friendly dogs. Some families choose battery-operated candles or lights in jack-o’-lanterns instead of real flames, reducing the risk that a costume brushes against a fire.

Checking treats

Parents are encouraged to inspect candy when children get home before anything is eaten. Toss anything that is unwrapped, appears to have been opened or tampered with, or comes from an unknown source. Families of children with food allergies should check labels carefully, since fun-size treats sometimes lack the full ingredient information found on regular packaging.

Plan for weather

This year, families may also need to plan around the weather. Forecasts for the Gulf Coast call for warm temperatures on Halloween, with highs in the upper 70s to near 80, along with scattered showers and a few thunderstorms becoming possible Saturday afternoon and evening. It does not appear to be an all-day rain, but some neighborhoods could be wet during trick-or-treating hours.

Light rain jackets or ponchos over costumes, waterproof flashlights and an extra eye on slick sidewalks and steps can help. If lightning is nearby, it is safest to head indoors and wait for storms to pass. Wet roads and rain-streaked windshields also make pedestrians harder to see, so drivers should slow down even more if showers develop.

Daylight Saving Time ends early Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks fall back one hour. After that, sunsets will come even earlier, so the visibility tips will remain important for evening walkers well beyond Halloween.

Alternatives to door-to-door

Families who prefer a more controlled setting have plenty of options across the region this year. Many communities, churches and businesses host trunk-or-treat events, daytime business trick-or-treats and fall festivals, where children can collect candy in a well-lit, supervised area. Some cities have also set official trick-or-treat hours, so it is worth checking with your city or town before heading out.

A quick checklist before heading out

• Make a plan: where you will go, who is going and what time you will be home.
• Charge your phone and bring a flashlight for every child.
• Add reflective tape or glow sticks to costumes and bags.
• Choose face paint over masks when possible.
• Bring rain gear in case showers pop up.
• Stay in familiar, well-lit neighborhoods and visit well-lit homes.
• Check all candy at home before eating.
• Drivers: slow down, turn headlights on early, and never drive distracted or impaired.

With a little preparation, Halloween can stay what it is meant to be: a fun night of costumes, candy and community.