Drive safe this Halloween

Come October 31st in North Carolina, kids are excited about Halloween, between dressing up and going trick-or-treating for candy. However, this time of the year can be extremely dangerous for children as there is an increase of pedestrian accidents and deaths. Parents should educate their little ones about safety precautions, and motorists need to be more aware and vigilant while on the road.

According to the National Safety Council, on Halloween children are fatally killed by cars more than twice as much as during other days of the year. Parents and children can do a number of things to prevent this from happening. One is to make sure costumes do not block the ability of children to see around them. Masks and hoods are especially dangerous, but things like oversized wings can also be visually obstructive. If kids will be out at dusk or dark, make sure there is something reflective on their costume or that they carry some type of light so others can see them. They should also only walk in areas that have adequate lighting and only on sidewalks.

The AAA Exchange also outlines tips for drivers. These include:

• Pay special attention to crossroads, as kids may not be paying attention
• Drive slower than posted speed limits while driving on pedestrian roads
• Use your headlights at all times, even during the day
• Widen your area of scanning and beware of darker costumes that may be difficult to see
• Be extra cautious when going in and out of driveways and alleys