Halloween Safety Tips from the Abingdon Police Department

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.