(October 30, 2014) – Halloween is a night of ghosts, ghouls, and “goblin” up candy but the night is not without it dangers.  To avoid ending the night in tragedy here are few safety tips.

Halloween is not just a dangerous night for motorists, it can be one of the most deadly nights of the year for pedestrians. The increase in trick-or-treating combined with impaired party goers behind the wheel makes for a scary combination.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that Halloween is consistently one of the top three days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities. In addition, 48% of all motor vehicle crash fatalities on Halloween night in 2012 involved a drunk driver.

Be Smart, Be Safe and Be Seen this Halloween

To help make the roadways safer this Halloween here are a few easy tips:

• Avoid neighborhood shortcuts. If possible, avoid cutting through residential streets where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present. When providing directions to a party, try not to route guests through neighborhoods unnecessarily.
• Watch for children in the street. Watch for children walking on streets, medians and curbs. Excited trick-or-treaters, often in dark costumes, may not pay attention to traffic and cross mid-block or between parked cars.
• Slow down. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian is more than twice as likely to be killed if they’re hit by a car traveling at 35 mph compared to 25 mph. What seems like a small difference—just 10 mph—can be the difference between life and death
• Drive sober. Alcohol-impaired drivers make up about one-third of all motor vehicle deaths resulting in an average of one death every 45 minutes. Always designate a sober driver if you plan to drink.

A few simple steps can help parents keep their trick-or-treaters safe, too:

• Trick-or-Treat together. Parents accompany young trick-or-treaters at least until the age of 12.
• Make a plan. Review trick-or-treating safety precautions and plan the route ahead of time. Remind children never to cross the street mid-block or between parked cars.
• Check costumes. Choose disguises that don’t obstruct vision and opt for non-toxic face paint instead of masks. Check and adjust the length of costumes to avoid tripping and add reflective material or tape to keep kids visible.
• Buckle up. If driving trick-or-treaters between neighborhoods, always use appropriate car/booster seats and have children exit and enter on the passenger side of the vehicle.

The AAA, and Dept of Highway Safety contributed to this story