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See And Be Seen This Halloween, AAA Advises

28 October 1997

See And Be Seen This Halloween, AAA Advises

    ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 28 -- Ghosts, ghouls, goblins and the
early darkness that come with the end of daylight-saving time can combine to
make Halloween a scary time for trick-or-treaters and motorists, AAA warns.
    "Trick-or-treaters are particularly at risk because they are usually out
near dusk when visibility is lowest," said Mark L. Edwards, managing director,
AAA Traffic Safety.  "The key to Halloween safety -- for drivers and
pedestrians -- is to see and be seen."
    Nearly half of all pedestrian fatalities involving children occur between
4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
    For trick-or-treaters, the best advice is to make their rounds during
daylight, AAA advises.  If out after dark, they should wear reflective
clothing, carry a flashlight, travel in groups on well-lighted sidewalks and
carefully check for traffic before crossing roads.  It also is important that
young trick-or-treaters be accompanied by a parent or older teen.
    For motorists, AAA says being seen and seeing others means staying alert,
driving slowly and using headlights beginning at least one hour before sunset.
    On Halloween, drivers should watch for children darting into traffic from
between parked cars.  Seventy-eight percent of fatalities involving young
pedestrians occur at non-intersection locations.
    To help ensure maximum visibility, drivers should check that their
vehicle's headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are in proper
working order.  During inspections by AAA, 42 percent of vehicles were found
to have burned out bulbs or other lighting system malfunctions.  Cleaning
headlights and windows also  increases visibility.
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 97 clubs with more than 1,000
offices providing 40 million members in the U.S. and Canada with travel,
insurance, financial and auto-related services.
    NOTE:  AAA news releases can be downloaded from the following sites:  AOL
-- Keyword: AAA; Click on "News and Events," "News Releases;" or
http://www.aaa.com/news/news.html

SOURCE  American Automobile Association