Halloween night brings more people onto roads shared by cars and trick-or-treaters. Kadrienne Bradshaw, an ICU nurse and mother of a five-year-old, said parents should give children their full attention and keep their phones down while trick-or-treating.
Halloween falls near the start of daylight saving time, and the earlier sunset means less visibility for pedestrians and drivers. TxDOT Public Information Officer Jeff Williford said pedestrian-related reports rise in October and November when the clocks change. He said Texas saw nearly 700 pedestrian roadway deaths last year.
Williford advised children to stay on sidewalks, avoid darting out between parked cars, and look both ways before crossing. He recommended teaching children not to run off at any time. Drivers should slow down in residential areas and scan the sides of roads for children. Bradshaw said she plans to add glow sticks and reflective tape to her son's costume. Stores including Target, Walmart, Lowe's, Tractor Supply and Ace Hardware may sell reflective tape, according to the report.