With COVID-19 public health restrictions no longer in place, expect to see more ghosts and goblins on the streets this Halloween.

“We want everyone to be alert and aware of their surroundings while on roads to ensure safety for drivers and trick-or-treaters,” says Fraser Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Emily Newhouse.

Safety tips for trick-or-treaters:

  • Be visible: Choose costumes that are lighter in colour, bring flashlights or glow sticks, and add reflective material to costumes, candy bags and shoes to ensure that children are visible to drivers.
  • Go as a group: Trick-or-treating in a group can be fun and makes everyone more visible to drivers, and an adult should always accompany children younger than 12.
  • Follow pedestrian rules: Remind children to always walk on sidewalks, cross only at crosswalks and refrain from walking between parked cars or through front yards.

Safety tips for drivers this Halloween:

  • Be alert: Drive slowly in residential areas to allow you more time to scan the road and react unexpectedly, if needed. Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
  • Take your time at stops: When you are nearing stop signs or intersections, come to a complete stop, scan the crosswalk and check multiple times before you start driving.
  • Do not drink and drive: Arrange for a ride with a designated driver, take transit, use a ridesharing app or call a taxi to get home safely.
  • Keep driving safely after Halloween night: With darker driving conditions during fall and winter months, it becomes harder to see pedestrians. Wet roads can mean it takes longer to stop. Taking your time and actively watch for pedestrians.

A few additional tips to ensure you stay safe:

  • Make sure your cellphone is charged in case of an emergency.
  • Check treats before consuming, and do not eat candy with unsealed or broken wrappers.

Having a good time on Halloween means you are ending the evening safely, so do your part to stay safe and injury-free this Halloween.

Media contact

For media inquiries, please contact:

media@fraserhealth.ca


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