AAA Arizona Offers Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters Phoenix, Ariz., October 24, 2007 – From witches to princesses, superheroes to the undead, Arizona kids will be taking to the streets in costume on Halloween night looking to fill their bags with sweets. Whether you’ve got a swashbuckling Jack Sparrow or a sophisticated Cinderella, AAA wants to be sure to remind families to stay safe this Halloween as the fun can often overshadow the dangers that exist.
Halloween consistently ranks as one of the top three days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Research shows children are four times more likely to suffer a pedestrian-related fatality on Halloween than any other night of the year. In 2005, 253 pedestrians under 15 years of age were injured in motor vehicle collisions in Arizona, resulting in nine fatalities. The vast majority of these incidents occurred while children were crossing roads.
“Halloween can be a dangerous night for kids,” said AAA Public Affairs Manager Linda Gorman. “Unfortunately, they tend to get so excited and wrapped up in the fun that sometimes they choose the fastest and shortest, rather than the safest, route when crossing the street.”
Even though the holiday falls on a Wednesday this year, Halloween festivities will be underway throughout the entire weekend – for both children and adults. Follow these tips to ensure a safe Halloween for the whole family:
Parents and Trick-or-Treaters:
Teach kids to look left, right and left again before crossing the street and to continue looking both ways as they cross.
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Remind them to stop at all street corners before crossing. Tell them to cross streets only at intersections and crosswalks.
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Teach kids never to dart out into a street or cross between parked cars.
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Teach children to walk, not run, while trick-or-treating.
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Never let kids under age 12 go trick-or-treating without the supervision of an adult.
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Decorate costumes, bags and sacks with retro reflective tape and stickers.
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Don’t put kids in dark clothing -- use costumes that are light or bright so kids are visible at night.
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Avoid the use of masks, as they may limit peripheral vision. Use costume make-up instead.
Tips for Motorists
Drive at least five miles per hour slower than the posted speed limit in neighborhoods.
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Don’t use a cell phone or engage in distractive behaviors while driving through neighborhoods.
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Stay alert when driving through intersections.
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Know when your neighborhood is holding Halloween activities.
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Make sure your headlights work. Turn them on even in the daylight hours to increase your visibility.
AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 750,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. |
