Brace for the most dangerous traffic night of the year for kids

If you have youngsters in your household, the buzz is starting right about now. When my two were little, Halloween was bigger than Christmas, bigger than summer vacation, bigger than their birthdays. Halloween was free candy, being out after dark and playing dress-up.

While costume creation is in full gear, give a thought to something else: road safety. Studies from both the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta and Safe Kids USA warn that Halloween is the most dangerous traffic night of the year for kids.

Various estimates put your little darlings at an increased risk: between 2 to 15 times more likely to be involved in a collision with a car. Thousands of little ones in full adrenaline mode, criss-crossing the streets in search of friends and the house giving out the best stuff — it doesn’t take much imagination to see the problems.

A few things to keep in mind, for both drivers and parents:

 • What’s the most dangerous part of the road? It’s not the intersections. It’s the midway point of blocks, where jay-running ghosts and witches forget the rules.

 • For those in the city, leave your car at home. Let your kids’ ages dictate how far they can travel, not your willingness to drive them around.

 • Cars parked on the streets add a layer of danger for trick-or-treaters. If you can, park elsewhere for a few hours to increase visibility for both children and their guardians.

 • Parents need to be vigilant. It’s fine to trail behind older kids from a less embarrassing distance. Extra sets of adult eyes on this night are good for all children, not just your own.

 • It’s dark by 5:30 p.m. or so. If you’re driving, slow down. Overexcited little ones are already out by this time.

 • No matter how uncool it is, get some reflective material or a light onto your children’s costumes. You can get tiny LED flashlights for a buck, turn them on and they’ll last for ages. Tape them to costumes.

 • Make sure your kids can see. Avoid masks that slip and hoods that interfere with vision. Use makeup instead, and remind your children it’s important that they see cars as much as cars see them.

 • If you’re driving, turn off the music, ditch your Bluetooth and bring down your windows a little. You might hear something before you see it — and that advance warning may save a little life.

 • It’s great if your children head out with a cellphone if they need it, but make sure they’re aware that distracted pedestrians are just as dangerous as distracted drivers. Make a deal about no walking and talking.

 • Remind your kids, especially those out unescorted, to never get into a strange car. It might be a special night, but all the usual rules still apply.

Even if you don’t have kids, it shouldn’t be hard to remember your own years of fun. Drive cautiously and let’s start changing those statistics.

Lorraine Sommerfeld appears Monday in Living and Saturday in Wheels. Reach her at www.lorraineonline.ca

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