White County Captain Nate Theiss urging families and motorists to take extra precautions as children head out for Halloween festivities.
Darkness can make trick-or-treaters harder for motorists to spot, particularly when costumes do not stand out against their surroundings.
“Just making sure that they’re safe,” Theiss said. “I know a lot of the Halloween costumes are black or dark, but if they could possibly be wearing some type of reflective, if they’re going to be walking in the streets, obviously try to trick-or-treat in a safe neighborhood.”
Halloween also puts more pedestrians in residential areas at a time when children may be focused more on the next house than nearby traffic. Theiss said that requires additional attention behind the wheel.
“One, just being aware of the situation around just at any time a little kid could just shoot across the street,” Theiss said. “So just to be situational awareness for the most part.”
Safety also begins before families leave home. Theiss said adults can use that time to prepare children for hazards they may encounter along the way.
“Well, one the parents need to watch their kids, but also they need to talk to their kids as well to say, hey, as we go out tonight always be looking both ways before crossing the street,” Theiss said. “You have cars now that are very quiet, like these electric cars, you can’t even hear them. So just to make sure that their kids are aware of their surroundings as well.”
Theiss said families in rural portions of the Upper Cumberland may face another challenge when choosing where to trick-or-treat. Many back roads lack sidewalks and other separation between pedestrians and moving vehicles.
“Oh, it is a danger,” Theiss said. “If you can go to a trunk-or-treat or go to a church that has a trunk-or-treat event or community centers that have it or actual subdivisions where the whole subdivisions do it together, it’s going to be a whole lot safer than the back roads here in the county.”
Halloween safety concerns continue after trick-or-treating ends, as weekend parties can put impaired motorists on the road. Theiss said people who plan to drink should decide how they will get home before the celebration begins.
“If you are of age and you’re going to be going to a party or something like that, have a designated driver to drive you home,” Theiss said. “It’s definitely not worth it.”