Kyle Foster, Age 10, died as a result of being hit while crossing the street in front of his home in Mesquite, TX on Halloween, 2003
Dear Friends,
Just a quick note to highlight a couple of facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
-Halloween has the highest number of child pedestrian deaths. These typically occur on residential streets
-It also has the highest number of DUI-related crash
fatalities
What can we do? Here are tips from the California Office for Traffic Safety
For tricker-treaters:
-Plan your route ahead of time on well-lit streets. Avoid busy streets.
-Choose a costume that makes it easier to walk, see and be seen. Light color costumes are best.
-Select costumes, masks, wigs or beards made of flame-retardant materials. Avoid flimsy, lightweight fabrics and costumes with billowing skirts or loose, baggy sleeves.
-A mask may keep kids from seeing well. Consider using makeup instead of a mask for added safety.
-It's best to trick-or-treat when it's still light outside, but a flashlight can help trick-or-treaters be seen.
-Use reflective tape on costumes.
For drivers:
-Avoid driving through residential areas where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present.
-Obey all traffic signs and signals. The risk of killing a pedestrian increases more than many people realize with just small increases in speed. A pedestrian is nearly twice as likely to be killed if he or she is hit by a car going 30 mph compared to if they're hit at 25 mph.
-Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs, and in dark costumes — they'll be harder to see at night. Also, be aware that trick-or-treaters may not be paying attention to traffic and may run out mid-block or between parked cars. Motorists should scan far ahead when driving in residential areas, watch for children and cautiously monitor their actions. Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible — even in daylight.
-Plan ahead if you will be drinking. Designate a sober driver. If you are already out and have had too much to drink, call a taxi, friend or family to drive you home.
-Party hosts should have plenty of food on hand for everyone throughout the evening and several non-alcoholic drink choices for the designated drivers.
-Don't allow anyone to leave if you have any doubts about their ability to drive.
Have a happy and safe Halloween.
To help keep kids alive all year long in your neighborhood, visit www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org.
"Don't let the 2 minutes you 'save' be the last 2 minutes of someone's life." Dave Townsend (Tia's Dad - Tia was hit and killed while walking in a marked cross-walk that also had a stop sign.)
