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Halloween the Most Dangerous Night of the Year?


When we think Halloween, we think a fantasy night of make-believe and way more candy than Mommy usually lets you have. But there’s dark side too: Halloween is actually the unsafest night of the year for kids, who have a greater chance of getting hit by a car than on any other night. You can imagine how it happens: super-excited kids in the dark, hopped up on sugar, forgetting hold hands or look both ways.

The number of kid pedestrians killed on October 31 is more than double the average of fatalities on other days, according a joint study from State Farm and Sperling’s BestPlaces that analyzed 21 years of data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). They study also found that 6pm to 7pm is the deadliest hour, and the age group most at risk is 12- to 15-year-olds, who might be trick-or-treating on their own for the first time. 

Plus: Best and Worst Halloween Candy for Your Teeth

To keep your kid safe, keep these tips in mind:

Be Seen
Add reflective tape on the back, arms, and legs of dark costumes so he's more visible to drivers. If that won’t work with your kid’s costume, have them carry a flashlight or glow stick. 

Do a Vision Check
A mask should have eyeholes wide enough for your kid to see well (cut bigger openings if necessary). Better yet, opt for face paint instead.

Go with Them
Experts say kids under 10 aren't old enough to trick-or-treat alone. If they’re itching to go without Mommy or Daddy, follow at a safe distance behind as a compromise. 

Walk on
Enforce a strict "no running" rule, and use the sidewalk. If there isn't one, walk on the street facing traffic, as far to the left as possible. And always cross the street at crosswalks.