Have a Safe and Fun Halloween!

NEW CITY, NY, - Happy Halloween! The Rockland County Department of Health and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee want to help ensure that all trick-or-treaters have a safe and fun holiday.  

Halloween is exciting for kids and adults - fun costumes, spooky decorations, and trick-or-treating! Unfortunately, according to Safe Kids Worldwide™, on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. 

“Halloween is one of the most enjoyable days of the year for the County's children. While dressing up and going trick-or-treating is fun, there are risks. It’s the responsibility of parents and caregivers to make sure that their trick-or-treaters know the rules and are safe,” said County Executive Ed Day. 

Here are a few tips – without tricks – to follow while moving around this Halloween:

• Light the way: Bring a flashlight or glow sticks so your trick-or-treater can see and be seen in the dark.
• Be visible: Wear light-colored clothing. Put reflective tape on clothes, costumes, and trick-or-treat bags to be seen by passing motorists.
• Use the crosswalk: Cross the street at a crosswalk or intersection. Never cross the street from between parked cars, and don’t assume you have the right-of-way.
• Stay on the sidewalk: If available, use the sidewalk. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.
• Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Establish eye contact with drivers to make sure they know you are there.
• Pay attention: Distracted walking can be as hazardous as distracted driving; watch where you are going. When crossing busy streets, look left, right, and left again. Look all around – except at your cell phone. Remove earbuds and pause your conversation when you are crossing busy intersections.
• There's safety in numbers! While trick-or-treating, walk in groups with a trusted adult. Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Never accept rides from strangers.
• Review traffic safety: Talk to your trick-or-treaters about pedestrian laws before leaving the house.
• Drive extra safely on Halloween: Slow down and be especially alert; take time to look for kids at intersections, on medians, and on curbs; enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully; get rid of distractions, like your phone; and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances. 

For more information about Halloween safety, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and Safe Kids Worldwide™. Learn more about pedestrian safety from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

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