Halloween weekend celebrations more dangerous than weekday
Monday, October 26th, 2009 | posted by: Admin
Ghosts and goblins are certainly scary, but pedestrians should be fearful of traffic during Halloween, especially when it falls on a holiday weekend. The number of motor vehicle fatalities on Halloween increases by an average of 30 percent when October 31 falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, compared to other days of the week, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A weekend Halloween holiday translates into more adults celebrating with higher incidences of reckless individuals choosing to drive while impaired, NHTSA cites.
The following list of precautions is recommended to ensure safety and fun for all on Halloween. By implementing these tips, the only thing revelers will have to worry about is eating too much candy!
Rules for drivers:
- Slow down while driving through residential areas – even 6mph can make a big difference in an emergency stop.
- Watch for children darting out from behind parked cars
- Come to a full stop at designated intersections and proceed slowly when driving through them.
- NEVER drive while or after drinking – find alternate transportation such as riding with a designated driver, or calling a taxi.
- Call *47 (North Carolina’s Highway Patrol) if you suspect a driver of being drunk or reckless. Provide the driver’s license plate number, make, model, location and travel direction. Do not try to stop the vehicle on your own.
Rules for parents and children:
- Wear light or reflective costumes that are easy to move in and don’t cause tripping, and use face paint instead of wearing a mask.
- Children need to carry a flashlight
- Ensure the “loot route” is planned along well-lit streets
- Before starting out, review the rules of the road with children.
- Accompany children and make sure the group travels together.
- If there is no sidewalk, always walk facing traffic and as far from the road as possible
- Never run out between two parked cars. Always cross at a designated intersection, looking both ways to make sure drivers see you before you cross.
