News

With Halloween approaching, anyone out and about in the dark trick-or-treating needs to be aware of the extra risks that arise as darker nights set in. Children, accompanying adults, and anyone driving on the day need to be safe and be seen and stay alert to road conditions, particularly if the weather is poor.

When trick-or-treating:

• Keep an eye on your children at all times, particularly when crossing road and reinforce the Green Cross Code rules
• Reflective tape on children’s Halloween costumes and bags can help them stand out in the glow of vehicle headlights
• If you live in an area without streetlights, carry a flashlight
• Take extra care if children are wearing costumes that restrict their vision and be careful with longer costumes that may cause them to stumble or trip
• Use well-lit designated crossing points when crossing the road and don’t cross where visibility is poor.

When driving:

• Slow down in residential areas where more pedestrians will be out in the hours of darkness
• Be aware that even roads that are not normally busy will be more crowded, perhaps with children who are less aware of road safety
• As children are also much shorter than the average adult they may be more difficult to see
• Be prepared for children to dart into the road without warning
• Be particularly careful around driveways, near parked cars, or anywhere else where vision is restricted.

As you go out trick-or-treating have fun and above all, be safe!