Your child is more likely to be killed in a pedestrian accident during Halloween than during any other night out of the year. Giggling ghosts and goblins will be trick-or-treating in neighborhoods across the area. Because kids are focused on the fun and not on traffic safety, we’re reaching out to drivers and other members of the community to take the proper safety precautions to help to make sure that they stay safe. Nobody wants the hauntings of a serious accident, injury or fatality this holiday!
Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers and officials with the Florida Department of Highway Safety (DHSMV) are here to make sure that everyone safe this All Hallow’s Eve. We’re here with a few safety tips for everyone in the community.
Safety Tips for Motorists:
-Stay alert and keep your attention on the road. You can expect a lot of pedestrian and bicyclist traffic on the night of the 31st.
-Remember that kids are going to be awfully excited and they’re going to want to go to as many houses as they can to get their paws on some real sweet treats. Be aware of children who may dart into the road to make that happen.
-Be especially careful where vehicles park alongside the road. Children are likely to pop out from in between vehicles and cross the street before looking both ways.
-Slow down and keep it calm. Give our children plenty of time to cross the street.
Tips for Parents and Guardians:
-Make sure your children’s costumes are lightly colored so that they’re clearly visible to motorists.
-When choosing a costume, choose one that doesn’t have loose ends that they could potentially trip over.
-“Decorate” your child’s costume and trick-or-treating candy bag with reflective tape to help motorists to see them better. Give all children a flashlight, too!
-Make sure that all trick-or-treaters, and even parents and other supervisors, are wearing well-fitting, sturdy shoes.
-Trick or treat in your own neighborhood. Go only to the homes of people you know.
-If your child is wearing a mask, you want to make sure that it’s not impairing their vision. If you need to, make the eye holes bigger or completely forgo the mask and go with face paint.
-Make sure that you review the importance of pedestrian safety with your child before hitting the neighborhood.
-Check all of the candy that they got on their trick-or-treating adventures before allowing them to dig in. Make sure that you toss out and goodies that appear to have been tampered with, are homemade or are open.
-Make sure that you choose a costume for your child that is flame retardant.
-When walking around the neighborhood, stay on sidewalks and cross the street only at street corners.
-Don’t go up to houses that don’t have their lights on.
-Avoid running across people’s yards.
If you or your child has been involved in an accident, contact Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. Call 1-800-561-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Passengers: Increasing Your Teen’s Risks for an Accident, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, October 19, 2012
Palm Beach Bicycle Safety: Helmets Saving Lives, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, October 18, 2012