Posted: October 23, 2018
Halloween is a special time of year for families across Nebraska. There's a crisp chill in the air and children look forward to an evening of costumes and candy. As an adult and a parent, you want to make sure your kids are safe. In the era of texting and driving, what can you do to prevent your child from getting injured by a motorist as they trick or treat? We've provided tips for doing so below.
Tips for Drivers
Tragically, twice as many child pedestrians are fatally hit by vehicles on Halloween than any other day of the year. Children, who are already inexperienced with being a safe pedestrian, are excited and understandably distracted as they run from house to house. If you will be driving on Halloween or Halloween night, do your part to keep trick-or-treaters safe:
- Keep your eyes, hands and mind on the task of driving. Of course it's important to be alert whenever you are behind the wheel, but Halloween adds the factor of lots of children traveling near the road, potentially darting into the road or crossing unexpectedly. As always, don't text and drive, and keep your focus on the road and pedestrians around you.
- Don't drive after drinking. Perhaps you have a Halloween party you are attending. If you plan to have a few drinks, call an Uber, Lyft or a taxi to get home. Risking a DUI arrest and possibly causing an accident is never worth it.
- Reduce your speed in neighborhoods. On Halloween, be prepared to travel slowly down neighborhood roads, where the trick-or-treaters are most likely to be.
- Report drunk drivers. If you suspect a drunk driver, call the non-emergency line of your local police department to report it.
While these steps cannot eliminate the risk of an accident, they are nonetheless important to protect pedestrians, yourself and other motorists.
Pedestrian Safety Tips
Before the night's festivities begin, consider keeping kids safer with these tips:
- Be visible. Brightly colored costumes and face paint are a good idea. Have children carry a flashlight, or wear a headlamp or glowing accessories. A flashlight can be placed in the bottom of the candy bucket to illuminate it, and then they won't have to worry about holding it.
- Accompany small children. Older children will of course want to go on their own, but make sure you know their planned route and set a curfew.
- Use sidewalks and crosswalks. Halloween can be a great teaching opportunity for your youngest kids. Accompany them and show them the importance of looking both ways for vehicles, using crosswalks, using intersections and walking on sidewalks.
- Don't assume motorists see you. Another teaching opportunity. Motorists aren't always paying attention. Before crossing, look motorists in the eye to make sure they actually see you and are stopping for you.
Get an Experienced Lawyer on Your Side
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence on Halloween or on any day or night of the year, please call our experienced attorneys in Omaha and Norfolk at 402-371-4300.
