Halloween Presents Special Traffic Hazards
13 October 1998
Halloween Presents Special Traffic Hazards; Drivers Should be Alert and Cautious
Children's Vision May be Obscured by Costumes;
Dusk is Prime-Time for Pedestrian Fatalities
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 12 -- Halloween can be a time of
great fun for children and adults alike, but motorists need to be especially
cautious when driving while trick-or-treaters are making their rounds, says
Indy car driver Lyn St. James, who is partnering with Drive Safer America! to
promote child and traffic safety this holiday.
"Despite warnings to the contrary, many children have their view of
oncoming traffic obscured by masks or hoods, so drivers need to drive slower
than normal and be especially alert for children," says Ms. St. James. "With
all of the excitement of costumes and a basket full of treats, children may
not be as attentive as they would be otherwise," she adds.
Most communities strongly urge that all trick-or-treating be done during
daylight hours and establish times in the late afternoon or early evening for
going door-to-door. And with Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, more
children will be able to participate than if the holiday came during the week
as it has for the past several years.
To help ensure the safety of young trick-or-treaters, Ms. St. James
recommends a number of common-sense tips:
* Children should always be accompanied by an adult or older, responsible
sibling. Traveling in groups with friends or neighbors is always a good idea.
* Do not trick-or-treat beyond the boundaries of your neighborhood.
* Make sure your child's costume fits. A good costume should not be too
long or too loose, possibly causing the child to trip and fall. Also, makeup
is preferable to masks because improperly fitted masks can obscure the
wearer's vision.
* Avoid dark-colored costumes and opt for brighter, more visible colors.
Dark costumes should be outfitted with reflective tape.
Though most people on the streets will exercise due caution, Ms. St. James
says that drivers need to keep up their guard. An increased volume of
pedestrian traffic during late afternoon and near dusk, when driving
visibility is at or near its worst, increases the risk of pedestrian-vehicle
injuries.
The American Automobile Association points out that nearly half of all
pedestrian fatalities involving children occur between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
On average, a pedestrian is injured in a traffic crash every seven minutes and
a pedestrian fatality occurs every 99 minutes, according to the National
Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Ms. St. James offers drivers the following driving safety tips for this
Halloween:
* Know your community's trick-or-treat hours. Avoid driving in
residential areas during these hours. If you must pass through a residential
area, drive slower than normal and be watchful for children whose view of
traffic may be obscured by their costume.
* Be especially watchful for children who might dart into the street
between parked cars as they hurry from home to home.
* Turn on your headlights even if it is well ahead of dusk and make sure
both headlights are working. This will help children see your vehicle more
easily.
* Be particularly mindful that many costumes are made of dark fabrics
that make some trick-or-treaters difficult or nearly impossible to see.
Always be prepared to stop suddenly.
* Allow more following distance than usual between your vehicle and the
one ahead of you -- pedestrian traffic may require the vehicle in front of you
to stop suddenly.
* Wet roads can become treacherous when covered with wet, fallen leaves.
Be ready to brake suddenly to avoid striking a child. If your vehicle is
equipped with four-wheel anti-lock brakes, remember to stomp on the pedal,
stay on it firmly and steer where you want to go to avoid a child, oncoming
traffic or parked vehicles.
For more information on crash avoidance techniques and vehicle safety
technologies, visit Drive Safer America! on the Internet at
http://www.drivesaferamerica.com or visit Ms. St. James site at
http://www.lifetimetv.com/sports/lynstjames. Consumers also can request a free Drive
Safer America! brochure and ABS instructional video by calling toll free at
800-694-5200.