Utah troopers will help with Halloween safety but need parents’ help
Oct 27, 2023, 2:05 PM

A witch and her guardian walk around Gardner Village in West Jordan on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. The Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Department of Public Safety held a press conference at Gardner Village to address pedestrian fatality data and encourage safety measures for both drivers and pedestrians leading into the holiday weekend. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — As you and your little ghosts head out for trick or treating, the Utah Highway Patrol said they’ll keep an eye out for people in cars who may have forgotten about all the little ones expected to hit neighborhood roads for Halloween.
Along these lines, Sgt. Cameron Roden said the UHP is beefing up patrols and will conduct DUI “blitzes” to decrease the number of potential accidents.
Roden said that both drivers and pedestrians are responsible for extra safety measures.
Pedestrians can ensure they are visible to drivers by carrying flashlights and even wearing glowsticks on top of their costumes.
Roden said pedestrians shouldn’t assume that a driver can see them. They should only cross streets when they know it’s safe to do so.
And parents can talk with their kids before they head out for trick or treating about these ways to stay safer.
As for drivers, Roden said they must keep their attention on the road and on the serious business of driving.
And driving sober maybe the most important decision a driver can make.
Related: As Utah nears 200th fatal crash of 2023, UHP urges extra caution ahead of Halloween