Ghosts, witches, superheroes, and other costumed children will soon be wandering along the roads this Halloween looking for candy and treats. Vehicular safety may not be their top concern, but it should be yours. It’s important that drivers remain vigilant and keep an eye out for children darting into the road, crossing parking lots, or strolling along the streets.

The scary reality is that Halloween has been one of the deadliest days of the year for pedestrians, especially children, statistics show. The risk of a pedestrian fatality was 43 percent higher on Halloween, based on a comprehensive study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association that analyzed 42 years of data.

“Halloween night is like a ‘perfect storm’ of risk because it involves darkness, a huge increase in pedestrian traffic—especially children—and all sorts of distractions,” says Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center. “Everyone needs to be ultracareful to not turn such a fun evening into tragedy.”

About half of traffic deaths overall occur either in the dark or at dawn or dusk, says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Driving at night is three times as risky as driving during the day,” says Matthew Brumbelow, a senior research engineer at the IIHS. The holiday should serve as a reminder to motorists and pedestrians alike about the dangers of roadway travel.

Continue Reading At:
https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/smart-road-tips-for-halloween-safety-a6980048187/