Rockland County Offers Tips For A Safe (And Fun) Halloween

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — It's okay for Halloween to be a little bit frightening — just as long as everyone stays safe.

The Rockland County Department of Health and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee want to help make sure that all trick-or-treaters stay safe while having fun during Halloween.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

"Halloween is one of the most enjoyable days of the year for the County's children," County Executive Ed Day said. "While dressing up and going trick-or-treating is fun, there are risks. It’s the responsibility of parents and caregivers to make sure that their trick-or-treaters know the rules and are safe."

Here are some tips from Rockland County:

• Bring a flashlight or glow sticks so your trick-or-treater can see and be seen in the dark.
• Wear light-colored clothing. Put reflective tape on clothes, costumes, and trick-or-treat bags to be seen by drivers.
• Cross the street at a crosswalk or intersection. Never cross the street from between parked cars, and don’t assume you have the right-of-way.
• If available, use the sidewalk. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.
• Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Establish eye contact with drivers to make sure they know you are there.
• Distracted walking can be as hazardous as distracted driving; watch where you are going. When crossing busy streets, look left, right, and left again. Look all around – except at your cell phone. Remove earbuds and pause your conversation when you are crossing busy intersections.
• While trick-or-treating, walk in groups with a trusted adult. Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Never accept rides from strangers.
• Talk to your trick-or-treaters about pedestrian laws before leaving the house.
• Slow down and be especially alert; take time to look for kids at intersections, on medians, and on curbs; enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully; get rid of distractions, like your phone; and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.

For more information about Halloween and pedestrian safety, visit:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website
• Safe Kids Worldwide
• Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee