Halloween Drivers Beware - Ghosts & Goblins on the Roads
24 October 2000
Halloween Drivers Beware - Ghosts & Goblins on the RoadsProgressive Offers Tips to Ensure Halloween Safety MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, Oct. 24 Celebrating Halloween is a family tradition that brings children and families on to the streets at the end of October each year. And while the ghosts, goblins and assorted critters roaming neighborhood streets aren't real, they do represent legitimate safety concerns for drivers, according to Progressive , one of the nation's largest auto insurance companies. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that: * Fatal collisions between motor vehicles and young pedestrians (under 15 years of age) happen most frequently between 4 pm and 8 pm -- prime trick-or-treating time. * In 1998, 82 percent of deaths among young pedestrians occurred at non- intersection locations (indicating children are most likely to dart and dash from mid-block into the street). * Of the 5,220 pedestrian/motor vehicle fatalities in 1998, 538 were young pedestrians. Of those, 62 percent were male. To help keep everyone's Halloween safe, Progressive offers these additional tips for drivers operating their vehicles in neighborhoods where children may be trick-or-treating: * Know when your neighborhood is holding Halloween activities. The actual holiday falls on a Tuesday this year, so some neighborhoods may opt to conduct trick-or-treating on the previous Friday, Saturday or Sunday evenings. * Don't use a cellular telephone while driving through neighborhoods -- a single distraction could lead to a tragedy. A recent countrywide survey by Progressive shows that 44 percent of Americans talk on the phone while driving. * Stay well below the posted speed limit during trick-or-treating hours. * Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway -- they could be dropping off children. * Stop when making turns, even if there is no stop sign or light. A child could be crossing the road. * Never assume a pedestrian approaching the roadway will yield to your vehicle; children may not see your vehicle approaching or might not be familiar with crossing roadways. * Use these common sense tips to be sure everyone arrives home safely.