PSA: Halloween safety tips from RCMP, ICBC, City of Kamloops

Know who your children are going trick-or-treating with and when they plan to return home.
Remind children to stay in their neighbourhood.
Remind children of which houses they can go to for safety if they get scared.
Remind children to respect others’ property by staying off of lawns and gardens and avoiding houses with the lights off.

Children and Teens:

Do not go trick-or-treating alone; go with a trusted adult or a group.
Let your parents know where you are going and for how long.
Stay in your neighbourhood and know where trusted people live so you can go there if you get scared.
Do not visit houses with the lights off.
Cross the street at marked crosswalks and intersections.
Wait for an adult to inspect your candy before eating it.
Only eat things that are in unopened wrappers.
When you get home, keep your treats in a safe spot, away from small children and pets.

Motorists:

Drive slowly, especially in residential areas.
Approach intersections with extreme caution.
Limit distractions in your vehicle in case you need to react quickly.
If possible, avoid driving through subdivisions and areas full of trick-or-treaters.

Costume Tips:

Wear light coloured or bright costumes, reflective tape and arm bands to increase visibility.
Wear properly fitted costumes to reduce your chance of tripping.
Vision can be obstructed by masks. Wear makeup instead or make sure the mask has big enough eye openings to see clearly.

The RCMP wishes everyone a safe, treat-filled Halloween!

From ICBC:

Halloween is supposed to be a fun-filled time for both children and adults, but for too many British Columbians, October 31st winds up being a nightmare.

Last year was particularly scary, with 370 people hurt in 1,000 crashes on Halloween, a substantial increase over 2017 when 290 people were injured.

To stay safe on the roads, ICBC offers the following tips:

Stay well below the speed limit. This is essential in residential areas between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. when children are trick-or-treating. Driving slowly will give you more time to react. A vehicle travelling 30 km/hr needs about 18 metres – the length of four cars – to stop.
Expect the unexpected. Children tend to have their minds more on treats than road safety on Halloween. Anticipate seeing children dart across the street or walking in unusual places like driveways, parking lots and alleys.
Do not pass a slow or stopped vehicle. Patience is key on Halloween night. Many people will be driving slowly as they watch out for trick-or-treaters. If a car is slowing down or stopped in front of you, don’t try to pass. The driver may be stopping to let children cross the road or for something else you can’t see.
Leave your phone alone. Distracted driving is one of the main factors in crashes involving pedestrians. With so many children out on Halloween night, it’s important to stay focused on the road and be aware of your surroundings.
Be bright to be seen. Encourage children to wear lighter-coloured costumes, add reflective tape to their outfit and treat bag, and equip them with a flashlight or headlamp to help them stand out in the dark.
Follow the rules of the road. When trick-or-treating with your child, always walk on sidewalks and cross only at crosswalks. If there is no sidewalk, walk as far to the edge of the road as possible, facing traffic. For older children that are trick-or-treating with friends, review the rules of the road and remind them to work their way up one side of the street, instead of crossing back and forth.
Plan a safe ride home. If your Halloween celebrations involve alcohol, plan your way home before you head out for the night. Arrange for a designated driver or use other options like a taxi or transit to get home safely.

Regional statistics:*

An average of 260 people are injured in 660 crashes on Halloween in the Lower Mainland.
An average of 32 people are injured in 140 crashes on Halloween on Vancouver Island.
An average of 29 people are injured in 110 crashes on Halloween in the Southern Interior.
An average of 10 people are injured in 59 crashes Halloween in the North Central region.

*Crashes and injuries are from ICBC data (5-year average, 2014-2018) for the 24-hour period on October 31.

From the City of Kamloops:

Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween, but not when it comes to kids’ safety. The City of Kamloops and Kamloops Fire Rescue want all the little ghosts and goblins to have fun this Halloween.

Follow these simple tips to ensure your trick-or-treaters stay safe:

Stay visible – bring flashlights, glow sticks, and reflective goodie bags, and add reflective tape to costumes.
Stay on the sidewalk and off the road when going house-to-house. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic and as far to the side as possible.
Cross at street corners, traffic signals, or well-lit, marked crosswalks. Never cross the road between parked cars.
Don’t assume the right-of-way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters.
Children under 12 should trick-or-treat with an adult and should never cross streets alone.
Use non-flammable materials when making costumes. Don’t use spray-on glues or hairsprays to keep decorations on,

Motorists are also reminded to use extra caution on Halloween night, especially in residential neighbourhoods.

by James Peters

PSA: Halloween safety tips from RCMP, ICBC, City of Kamloops

From Kamloops RCMP:

From ICBC:

To stay safe on the roads, ICBC offers the following tips:

Regional statistics:*

From the City of Kamloops:

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