Motor vehicle safety

Try to purchase or make costumes that are light colored and clearly visible to motorists. Decorate or trim costumes and treat bags/containers with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.

Make sure costumes are short enough so they don’t cause children to trip or fall. Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Walk, don’t run!

Masks should not impair a child’s hearing or field of vision. If necessary, enlarge ear and eye holes and secure hats/headgear to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes.

Make sure you and your children are walking out of the roadway and only crossing in designated places. Stop, look both ways and listen before stepping into roadways.

Be aware of your surroundings and the location of your children at all times. Plan your route ahead of time so you don’t have to be on your phone or distracted by street signs, badly lit and unsafe areas or poor road and sidewalk conditions.

You should never assume a motorist can see you or your children and is going to stop. Make eye contact with the driver, and even wait for the driver to motion to you to go ahead before you start crossing a roadway.