5 Halloween Safety Tips from Portland BOT

Straddling the line between autumn and winter, Halloween is a time of superstition and celebration. The Portland Bureau of Transportation shares tips on how friends and families in the Portland area can stay spooky while staying safe as they enjoy one of the most popular holidays of the year.

• Be Visible: Residents are cautioned to watch for other travelers. Parents can add lights and reflectors to their children's costumes.
• Daylight Savings Time: Travelers are encouraged to take extra care throughout the darker days of fall and winter. Take extra care as you travel this weekend and throughout the darker days of fall and winter.
• Drive Carefully: Drivers should stop―and remain stopped―for pedestrians as the latter cross the street, slowing down and continually scanning their environment for people on foot, bicycles and wheelchairs. There should be enough space between the driver and the vehicle ahead so that there is sufficient time to react when necessary.
• Trick-or-Treating: Walkers must look before crossing streets, crossing one lane at a time while ensuring that drivers see and stop for them before fully entering a crosswalk. Walkers should consider wearing lighter clothing and using lights in order to "be seen and be safe," in the words of TriMet's safety campaign.
• Cyclists: Those who ride bikes are instructed to use headlights and taillights from dusk to dawn; just as when driving, cyclists are cautioned to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians seeking to cross the street.

Following these guidelines ensures a safe Halloween. The Portland Bureau of Transportation prides itself as a community partner, shaping a livable city as it builds and maintains an effective transportation system for Portland's residents and businesses. Further information is available through the bureau website or contacting Communications Director John Brady via (503) 823-7375.

Have a fun, safe Halloween.

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