Parents throughout Mississippi are already busy helping their children get their Halloween costumes ready for parties, trick-or-treating, and other fun things later this month. While Halloween can be a fun holiday for families, there are some frightening statistics about pedestrian accidents on Halloween that are enough to make any parent’s skin crawl. Did you know that there is an increased risk of pedestrian accidents on Halloween, especially for children?
In the United States, approximately six children are killed in pedestrian accidents every year on Halloween. Most of these fatalities occur between the hours of 5 and 9 in the evening when children are out trick-or-treating. Younger children are more likely to be accompanied by an adult when they hit the streets, so they are somewhat less likely than older children to be involved in fatal pedestrian accidents on Halloween.
Fortunately, there are ways to keep your little ghosts and goblins safe while having plenty of Halloween fun. Many communities have made efforts to keep kids safer by encouraging residents to participate in trick-or-treating during daylight hours. Some places have even imposed curfews. Parents can help to keep their children safe by accompanying them as they make the rounds. Older children may want to go out with a group of friends, but it is safer if an adult accompanies the group, so think up a fun costume and join in the fun.
Speaking of costumes, work visibility into your kids’ costumes for extra safety. Light colors, reflective fabrics, and glow sticks or glow jewelry are just some of the ways that you can make sure that their costumes are easily seen. Also, make sure that they can see well while they are wearing their costumes, and that their view is not obstructed by a mask, hood, or another part of the costume. When you go trick-or-treating, bring along a flashlight or two, and make sure that you use crosswalks. Keep your kids and their friends safe by paying close attention to where everyone is walking, the kids may be very excited and not all that attentive to whether they are stepping off of the road and into the street. If you have your cell phone with you, don’t make calls or send texts while you are walking, as it could distract you from the task at hand.
Another way that anyone, whether or not they are a parent, can help to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents on Halloween, is to stay off of the road during “the witching hours” if that is at all possible. The streets will be crowded with pedestrians, and traffic will be moving much more slowly than usual. If you must drive, avoid residential areas as much as possible, as those areas are where most of the trick-or-treating takes place. Be aware that police are often out in full force, helping to keep the streets safe for kids. They will not hesitate to stop you for speeding, or for anything else that they feel presents a threat to pedestrians.
Barrett Law PLLC: Helping Mississippi Personal Injury Plaintiffs
If you or your child were injured in a pedestrian accident, a Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney could help you navigate your pedestrian accident case and understand the claims process while you focus on healing from your injuries. Please call the Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule a free, initial consultation.