Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe Tonight

The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety wants to make sure your little ghost, goblin, cowboy or princess makes it home tonight to eat all the candy they are sure to collect while trick-or-treating.

To that end, the state has released two lists of helpful reminders to make sure everyone—the trick-or-treaters and the motorists—have a safe, happy Halloween.

“We’re asking motorists to be mindful of the youngsters on local streets as they go trick or treating,” Divison of Highway Traffic Safety acting director Gary Poedubicky said. “We can do this by slowing down, avoiding distractions, never talking or texting on a cell phone, buckling up every time, and never drinking and driving.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, on average, twice as many children are killed in pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents on Halloween between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. as compared to the same hours on other days throughout the year.

Tips for parents to share with children about trick-or-treating:

• Cross at intersections only
• Never cross a street by walking between parked cars
• Before crossing, look left, right and then left again, and remember to also listen for traffic
• Wear light-colored or reflective clothing at night
• If there is no sidewalk available, walk as far off the roadway as possible on the side of the road, facing oncoming traffic
• Obey all traffic signs and signals
• Carry a flashlight during the evening hours

Tips from the Division of Highway Traffic Safety for motorists to follow during trick-or-treating hours (and really any other time!):

• Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks
• Watch for pedestrians when turning on red
• Obey posted speed limits
• Do not block or park in crosswalks
• Keep your windshield clean (inside and out) for maximum visibility
• Be alert for pedestrians at all times
• Turn on your headlights prior to dusk to increase your visibility for pedestrians and other vehicles