HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS
Who
Can Trick or Treat and When?
In
the Town of Abingdon, trick or treat visitations are restricted to children
TWELEVE (12) years of age and under. Curfew
on Halloween evening is 10:00 p.m. All Halloween visits must end at this time.
Trick or Treat With an Adult
Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at
night without adult supervision. Plan to make Trick or Treat visits in groups. It is always
more fun with friends. Visit homes that have a porch light on. Accept your treats at the door. NEVER go into a stranger’s
house. Be cautious of animals, strangers, ghouls and goblins.
Walk Safely
Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and
crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking
as you cross. Constantly look for oncoming cars and low flying brooms! Do not hide or cross the street between parked cars. Put electronic devices away and keep heads up and walk, don’t
run, across the street. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing
in front of them. Walk, crawl, slither and sneak on sidewalks or paths, not in
streets. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the
left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street
crossings. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross
between parked cars.
Keep Costumes both Creative and Safe
Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or
stickers and choose light colors. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead
of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help
them see and be seen by drivers. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right
size to prevent trips and falls.
Motorists Please Drive Extra Safely
on Halloween
Slow down and stay alert in residential neighborhoods.
Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on
medians and on curbs. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and
carefully. Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can
concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and
turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater
distances. Popular trick-or-treating hours are from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00
p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
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