Halloween Is the Most Dangerous Night of the Year for Children: Follow These Safety Tips for a Less Scary Holiday

Why Are Accident Fatalities So High on Halloween?
With so many children taking to residential roads and sidewalks in pursuit of trick-or-treating victories, you’d think motorists would be more conscientious when they get behind the wheel — or avoid driving altogether. But that is not the case. So, why do worst-case scenarios happen so frequently on the spookiest night of the year? To help you understand this unfortunate phenomenon, we’ve laid out some of the primary reasons below.- Reason #1 — Overexcited kids.
- Reason #2 — Excessive alcohol.
- Reason #3 — Early sunsets.
Ensuring Safety on the Spookiest Night of the Year
While the aforementioned reasons are sobering reminders of potential Halloween dangers, there is good news — these conditions are almost completely unavoidable with the right prevention. To keep you and your little goblins as safe as possible, we’ve assembled the following, handy guide on ways to maximize the fun and minimize the risk. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!Trick-or-Treating Preparation Tips
- Choose colorful, visible, and fire-resistant costumes that will stand out in dim nighttime conditions.
- Use glow sticks, flashlights, and reflective stickers to help improve kids’ visibility.
- Plan a trick-or-treating route that will keep you away from major roads and intersections.
- Start early – while it’s still light outside – and don’t let kids go out alone.
- When it comes to costumes, the FDA recommends using nontoxic Halloween cosmetics on kids’ faces rather than masks (which can interfere with the wearer’s peripheral vision), and avoiding decorative contact lenses (which are illegal unless prescribed by a doctor).
Best Practices When Going Door-to-Door
- Stay on sidewalks wherever you can to avoid tripping over unseen hazards and remain as far away from automobile traffic as possible.
- Always travel with a group, preferably supervised by one or more adults.
- Obey local curfews or set one yourself for your kids if your municipality hasn’t specified a designated time for trick-or-treating. You can also try indoor trick-or-treating at some Metro Detroit locations, or enjoy this year’s Halloween in the D sponsored by the City of Detroit.
- Remind children that they shouldn’t ever go inside homes or vehicles owned by strangers – whether it’s on Halloween or any other day.
- Instruct kids to sort through the candy they receive in a well-lit location when they return home to ensure wrappers are intact and treats contain no ingredients that they’re allergic to.
- Phones can be useful as you scour the neighborhood for candy handouts or document the festivities… but should only be used while standing still! Slipping and falling while texting or taking videos can put a damper on the fun, and – heaven forbid – could even cause you to drop your hard-earned treats!
Safety Guidelines if you Need to Hit the Roads
- Drive more cautiously than usual – remember kids can be careless and fearless. The National Safety Council suggests keeping an especially watchful eye out for children dressed up in dark costumes.
- It should go without saying, but don’t drink and drive – especially on Halloween. And if you’re attending a seasonal party, use a designated driver or use a rideshare service when it’s time to head home at the witching hour.
- As usual, don’t text while you’re driving. You don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of a judge and jury, especially during the upcoming holiday season
- If you’re a novice driver or have difficulties with night vision, Halloween is a very good evening to just stay home, hand out candy at the front door, and watch a scary movie on TV. If you absolutely must go out, ask a trusted friend or family member to take the wheel on your behalf. It could save you from doing something you’ll regret for the rest of your life.
Don’t Be Afraid — We’ve Got You Covered.
Just as we are day in and day out 24/7/365, we’ll be standing by on Halloween night to take your call at 855-MIKE-WINS (855-645-3946). Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you or someone you love are injured in any kind of mishap resulting from someone’s negligence or bad actions this Halloween or any other day of the year. We’ll represent your interests and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.Content checked by Mike Morse, personal injury attorney with Mike Morse Injury Law Firm. Mike Morse is the founder of Mike Morse Law Firm, the largest personal injury law firm in Michigan. Since being founded in 1995, Mike Morse Law Firm has grown to over 250 employees, served 100,000 clients, and collected more than $2 billion for victims of auto, truck and motorcycle accidents. The main office is in Southfield, MI but you can also find us in Detroit, Sterling Heights and many other locations.
