According to the US Census, 73.1 million children are expected to partake in one of the most popular holidays in the nation: Halloween. These children eagerly await the sole day in the year when they can dress up as their favorite characters and run from house to house as they collect candy from neighbors. Although this exhilaration is a childhood highlight for countless children, Halloween brings something far more sinister than haunted houses: pedestrian fatalities.
A study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) affirms that “the relative risk of a pedestrian fatality was 43% higher on Halloween.” Children between the ages of 4 and 8 exhibited “a 10-fold increase in pedestrian fatality risk.” Because trick-or-treating, a popular Halloween tradition, occurs during the evening when visibility is low, it is easier for a driver to overlook children on the road. Similarly, components of costumes, such as masks, faux armor, and other facial accessories, may obscure vision, making it more difficult for children to see cars.
Many continue to disregard the devastating statistics concerning pedestrian fatalities on Halloween. Parents must recognize the dangers of trick-or-treating without adult supervision and ensure their kids know how to stay safe on Halloween. For example, children and adults should refrain from using their phones or other distractors while crossing the road.
Although some claim that these dangers are of no concern to young children who trick-or-treat earlier in the evening, the NHTSA states that “risks [are] highest around 6 pm.” Therefore, everyone on the roads on Halloween is in danger, not solely those who trick-or-treat late at night. Fatalities can result from the mere excitement of young children who cross the road without paying attention and accidentally put themselves in harm’s way.
However, these risks do not mean parents should forbid their children from trick-or-treating on Halloween. Instead, parents should supervise young children and ensure they know how to behave safely. Research from the non-profit organization Safe Kids Worldwide indicates that 65% of parents do not talk to their children about Halloween safety concerns. Making this simple change can protect children from possible accidents. Furthermore, Dr. Cornelius Ferreira, a primary care physician for Nuvance Health Medical Practice, recommends giving them a flashlight to “help cars see children… and help [children] see curbs, sidewalks, and sticks.”
Many view Halloween as just an evening of costumes and candy. It’s time to recognize the great dangers of trick-or-treating without parental supervision. Overlooking children’s fatalities on Halloween to preserve its magic is a cretinous decision that will endanger countless children. Parents must either ensure children are equipped with the knowledge necessary to protect themselves or accompany them on their journey. Instead of simply idealizing the trick-or-treating tradition, parents and children alike must learn that Halloween brings with it many grave dangers.
Written by Riya Khatri of Sherwood High School
Graphic courtesy of Lindsey Zhang of Richard Montgomery High School