Halloween Safety Tips
Take precautions so that you can have a fun and SAFE Halloween!
Take precautions so that you can have a fun and SAFE Halloween!
⚡ TL;DR: Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween. Use flashlights and reflective gear. Adults should supervise young children, and drivers must watch for pedestrians in dark clothing.
⚠️ What’s at stake: Halloween is the deadliest day of the year for vehicle-pedestrian incidents involving children. Drivers who hit unprotected trick-or-treaters face criminal liability.
Trick or Treating
When Trick or Treating, follow these safety tips:
• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds. • Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home. • Use flashlights, reflective bands, glow sticks or other reflective gear to increase visibility. • Teach your children to never enter a stranger’s home or car. • If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you. • Agree on a specific time when children should return home. • Both children and adults should put electronic devices down, keep heads up, and walk (don’t run) across the street. • Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and to stick with their friends. • Treats should be reviewed for opened containers / questionable condition.
Driving
If you can avoid driving on Halloween, then do so. If you are driving on Halloween, follow these safety tips:
• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs. • Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully. • At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing. • Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween.
We hope you have a safe and happy Halloween!
Need workplace safety training or event safety planning? Get started →
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the National Safety Council say about Halloween traffic safety?
According to the National Safety Council, 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. This elevated risk results from combinations of darkness, costumes that impair visibility, distracted children, and increased vehicular traffic during trick-or-treating hours.
Q: What visibility precautions should children take while trick-or-treating?
Children should use flashlights, reflective bands, glow sticks, or other reflective gear to increase visibility to drivers. Both children and adults should put away electronic devices, keep heads up, and walk (not run) across streets. Trick-or-treaters should travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with friends or responsible adults.
Q: What precautions should drivers take on Halloween to avoid hitting trick-or-treaters?
Drivers should watch for children on roadways, medians, and curbs, enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully, watch for children in dark clothing during twilight and evening hours, and discourage inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween. Driving slowly through neighborhoods and being vigilant for pedestrians significantly reduces Halloween traffic incidents.
Q: What treat-related safety precautions should parents take on Halloween?
Parents should require children to return home before eating any treats to allow inspection. All treats should be reviewed for opened containers or questionable condition before consumption. Parents should also review trick-or-treating routes with older children, establish specific return times, and emphasize never entering a stranger’s home or vehicle.
💰 The cost of an incident: Motor vehicle injuries involving children can result in $1M+ in medical costs and lifelong disabilities. Liability exposure extends to drivers, property owners, and event organizers.
We Plug In. You Level Up. Get safety guidance →