Around 35 million U.S. children between five and 13 years old go trick or treating every year. Statistics show 23% of fatalities occur with children between the ages of five and eight; and 70% of accidents occur away from an intersection or crosswalk. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween as on any other day of the year.
According to a new State Farm study, U.S. Drivers also have a 1 in 116 chance of hitting an animal while driving. The likelihood more than doubles during October, November and December, when collisions are most prevalent. 4.4% (523,000) of collisions are with dogs, 1% (12,574) cats, and people even collide with rats (10,868 claims). 58% (1.1 million claims) of collisions are with deer and unknown animals 27% (523,019.
Whether you’re going door-to-door, driving or passing out treats at home, State Farm® wants to keep your little princesses, pirates, police officers, and witches safe this Halloween.
Here are some tips to protect your family and car that you can share with our community. Feel free to also share these tips on your website. I can arrange an interview with a State Farm agent to further discuss. Thanks.. Jose
State Farm Halloween Safety tips:
If you’re going door-to-door
- Always accompany young children.
- Exercise great caution during the “scariest” hours: between 5 and 9 p.m. It is especially dangerous for pedestrian accidents between 6 pm and 7 pm.
- Stick to neighborhoods with sidewalks. If you must walk on the street, keep to the far left, facing traffic.
- Practice safe crossing procedures: Use crosswalks; wait for corners; and look left, right and left again before crossing.
- Stick reflective tape onto costumes to make your child more visible. Also have him or her carry a flashlight.
- Make sure costumes and shoes are the correct size to prevent tripping. Use face paint and leave the masks at home: They can obstruct vision.
- If an older child is venturing out without supervision, ask that he or she go with a group, discuss the route and agree on a curfew. Give older kids cell phones so they can stay in touch.
If you’re driving
- Drive slowly
- Be alert for children and eliminate in-car distractions.
- Practice extra caution at intersections and corners.
- Pull in and out of driveways carefully.
- Discuss these and other driving pointers with your teen driver. Drivers ages 15-25 were involved in around one-third of fatal crashes involving child pedestrians on Halloween.
If you’re handing out treats
- Keep your home brightly lit indoors and outside.
- Clear debris and other obstacles from your lawn, sidewalks and steps.
- Opt for battery-operated candles in jack-o’-lanterns or other areas where costumed trick-or-treaters might stand.
- Keep pets kenneled or in another room.
In addition to protecting children from accidents, remind kids of stranger danger on Halloween. Teach children to visit only well-lit homes, to avoid dark streets and to not enter homes that aren’t their own. Kids should show all their loot to parents before eating any of it. Homemade treats from people they don’t know shouldn’t be eaten.
Here are some Animal Collision Safety Tips:
- Use extra caution and slow-down in known animal crossing zones.
- Slow down. Reduce your vehicle’s speed and maintain a constant lookout for animals. Travel at a speed that will allow you to stop in time if an animal comes into the beam cast by your headlights
- Dusk to dawn are high-risk times; use high beams when appropriate.
- Scan the road and avoid swerving when you see an animal. Brake firmly when you notice an animal in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
- Always wear your seatbelt. Safety belts saved an estimated 114,955 lives in 2017.
After-crash tips:
- Move your vehicle to a safe place: Pull to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights.
- Call police: If an animal is blocking traffic and could be create a threat for other drivers.
- Document: Take photographs of the road, your surroundings and damage.
- Stay away from the animal: A frightened, wounded animal could use its legs and hooves to harm you. Do not attempt to move an animal.
- Don’t assume your vehicle is safe to drive: Look for leaking fluid, loose parts, tire damage, broken lights and other hazard.
- Contact your insurance company: Quickly file your insurance claim.