Florida Highway Patrol offers ways to make Halloween fun and safe
As we prepare for the excitement of Halloween, motorists should be particularly mindful that children will be out trick-or-treating Saturday evening.
“Halloween is a special time for children, and the additional traffic of a weekend highlights the need for safety first,” said Major Brent Coates, Florida Highway Patrol Troop F Commander. “As motorists, parents and concerned neighbors, we all must be on the lookout for children whose youth and inexperience might put them at risk.”
The Florida Highway Patrol will join local law enforcement officers throughout Florida to make this a safe and memorable holiday, and we recommend both parents and drivers follow these helpful tips:
DRIVERS
Stay alert. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will increase in many neighborhoods on Halloween night.
Keep an eye out for trick-or-treaters who may suddenly dart into traffic from between parked cars.
Be particularly cautious in areas where parked cars align the street.
Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.
Be patient and SLOW DOWN. Give children lots of time to cross the street. Their costumes may impair their ability to see and hear you and to get out of your way quickly.
Remember that children will be excited and may forget to “stop, look and listen” before they cross the street.
PARENTS
Talk to your child about looking both ways before crossing the street.
Purchase or make costumes that are light colored and clearly visible to motorists.
Decorate (and get the kids to help) or trim costumes, goody bags and other containers with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.
Make sure costumes are short enough so they do not cause children to trip or fall.
Children should wear well-fit, sturdy shoes.
Masks should not impair a child’s hearing or field of vision. If necessary, enlarge ear and eyeholes or use makeup to create special effects.
Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over your child’s eyes.
We all need to do our part to make this a safe, memorable Halloween for everyone.
The Department encourages anyone with a Florida driver license or identification card to register your Emergency Contact Information. You can register up to two contacts online at www.flhsmv.gov/eci or in a driver license office. It takes only a few minutes to register your contacts and give your loved ones peace of mind. The information can then be accessed only by law enforcement officers to find designated contacts in the case of an emergency.