What might be more terrifying than the ghosts and goblins of All Hallow’s Eve are the risks for young pedestrian accidents. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, October 31st is the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians. An overwhelming majority of children (close to 90 percent) participate in Halloween activities, and three quarters (close to 75 percent) go trick-or-treating door-to-door.
“On Halloween, motorists need to be especially vigilant between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight, when pedestrians are most vulnerable,” said AAA’s Jennifer Huebner Davidson.
Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that with excited children running through the streets and darting between parked cars — often in dark clothing — Halloween and those trick-or-treating adventures are a hazardous time and it’s putting youth more at risk of traffic accidents. But there are things that we all can do to help to reduce the risks of these kinds of accidents. Parents, children, motorists, ghosts and goblins can work together to make sure that everyone gets through this haunted holiday safely.
Precautions for Safer Roads:
-Trying to avoid taking neighborhood shortcuts. As a driver, try not to use the roads that cut through neighborhoods on this night.
-Keep an eye out for children running across the street. Keep an eye for little monsters on curbs, medians, driveways and on the street. Excited trick-or-treaters, especially those in dark costumes, may have reduced visibility and may not pay attention to the traffic around them; and are oftentimes more willing to cross at a non-intersection area when you’re not expecting them.
-Keep an eye on your speed. According to officials with AAA, a pedestrian is more likely to die in an accident if they’re hit by a vehicle traveled at 35 mph than by 25 mph.
-Stay sober behind the wheel. We understand that Halloween is still a popular adult’s holiday. If alcohol is included in your celebration, make sure that driving isn’t.
-Parents should have a trick-or-treating plan. Make sure that young ones are always accompanied closely during their evening candy-seeking adventures.
-Remember to be cautious in your vehicle, too. If you’re transporting young trick-or-treaters between neighborhoods with your vehicle, make sure that you’re always using the proper child car restraints and make sure that children exit and enter on the passenger side of the vehicle on the side of the vehicle that’s facing away from traffic.
-Light up your little ghost. Give children flashlights or glow sticks to carry, and/or add reflective tape to costumes.
-Avoid trick-or-treating after dark. Your risks for a fatal pedestrian accident significantly increase as the sun sets.
Did you know that only a third of parents talk to their kids each year about Halloween safety? On the same hand, about 75 percent of parents have Halloween fears. On average, about twice as many child pedestrians are killed while walking on Halloween compared to any other day of the year.
“Halloween is consistently the most dangerous day of the year for kids to walk,” says Safe Kids spokeswoman Kate Jones.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact Richard Ansara at 954 761-3641 or toll-free at 877-277-3780 for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
More Blog Entries:
New Intersection System to Protect Pedestrians of Las Olas, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, October 4, 2013
Pedestrian Hit and Killed at Miami International Airport Terminal, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, September 20, 2013