Monday is Halloween, which means a lot of additional traffic on the roads in the form of both cars and pedestrians. Before your community streets are flooded with trick-or-treaters, here’s some reminders about pedestrian and road safety for Halloween.
Motorists:
- Slow down! Keep your driving at a very slow pace on Monday evening, as there will be lots of children on the road in residential areas. Make sure you’re fully aware of your surroundings and entering and exiting driveways and alleyways with caution.
- Eliminate distractions: while this should always be a basic rule of driving, with so many excess pedestrians on the road, you can’t turn your attention away for a second.
- Stay sober! Again, this is always, always important. Never take any chances with this.
- Look out for your neighbours: be on the lookout for other people on the streets as well. If you notice a suspected impaired driver, or a lost child, report it to the authorities right away. Keeping an eye out is an easy way to keep everyone in your community safer on Monday night.
Pedestrians:
- Stay safe if you’re partying: walking home drunk can be just as dangerous as driving or cycling impaired. If you’re choosing to walk home from a party this weekend, ensure someone is with you to ensure a safe return home. Or even better, opt for a cab or designated driver!
- Children out at night under the age of 12 should be accompanied with adult supervision.
- Set boundaries for kids trick-or-treating, allow them to stick only to areas they are familiar with, and areas that are well-lit.
- Decorating costumes with reflective tape is a great way to ensure safety for your kids on Halloween night. Another option is to have them carry glow sticks or flashlights so that drivers can see them easily.
- Obey street signs, and only cross the street at designated crosswalks or at intersections.
If you’re looking for some Halloween safety tips for your home, RE/MAX shared some helpful advice on their blog this week.
