Tarrytown Police Chief Offers Halloween Safety Tips

TARRYTOWN, NY — Over the past decade, the number of child pedestrians up to age 14 fatally injured on Halloween has been nearly three times higher than the daily average.

That data from the National Highway Safety Administration is why the Village of Sleep Hollow Chief of Police Anthony Bueti is sending a message to parents and guardians.

“On Halloween, we’re placing our children in probably some of the most dangerous traffic situations you could imagine,” he wrote.

“I urge you to take special precautions to keep everyone safe,” Bueti said. “Please drive more carefully and slowly, especially where trick-or-treating activity is prevalent.”

He offers the following tips from AAA to help keep children safe:

Parents and children:

• Be bright at night; use reflective tape on costumes and treat bags, wear bright colors and carry flashlights and glow sticks for extra visibility.
• Don’t wear a costume that obstructs vision. Use makeup instead of a mask.
• Wear a costume that you can walk in — comfortable footwear and nothing that drags on the ground.
• Look all ways and listen for traffic before crossing streets and driveways.
• Work one side of the street at a time, crossing only at corners and crosswalks. Stay out of the roadway.
• Younger children should always be accompanied by an adult or trustworthy teen.
• Older children should be given boundaries and should communicate with their parents along the way.

Motorists:

• Try to avoid cutting through residential areas where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present.
• Obey all traffic signs and signals, and travel with extreme caution in residential areas.
• Scan far ahead and watch attentively for children who may be excitedly running from house to house or crossing streets at unexpected places. Avoid driving distractions, even after traditional trick-or-treat hours.
• If you are attending an adult Halloween party where alcoholic beverages are being served, be sure to have a designated driver.