Avoid real horror stories with a safe Halloween, UHP says

MURRAY — The state is hoping all the scares and spooky scenes this Halloween are in good fun and not the result of a real horror story.

On Tuesday, the Utah Department of Transportation and the Utah Department of Public Safety issued their annual reminder for families and trick-or-treaters to be safe on Friday, as well as a reminder for drivers to be extra attentive.

“We’re nearing that time of the year where it’s getting darker earlier and staying darker later. It’s hard to see pedestrians when they’re not wearing reflective clothing or lighting, and we’ve forgotten what it’s like to drive when it’s darker in the evenings and the mornings,” said UHP Sgt. Mike Alexander. “Parents need to talk to their children about safe pedestrian habits. That’s going to include using sidewalks, using crosswalks, wearing reflective clothing, wearing reflective gear on their clothing if they’re not reflective.”

Pedestrian safety

On Tuesday, state officials shared safety tips and displayed glow sticks, flashlights, reflective tote bags and other items that both trick-or-treaters and their parents can use to make themselves more visible when going house-to-house on Friday.

“It doesn’t take much. Whether that’s a glow stick, a piece of reflective gear, or something you can just add or clip to the costume. Or a light-up candy carrying bag to make sure that the kids are really visible to those drivers as they’re out there trick-or-treating,” said Jason Mettmann, with the Utah Highway Safety Office and Zero Fatalities group.

He also reminds children that they should cross the street in crosswalks or at intersections, avoid darting into roads and complete one side of the street during trick-or-treat before going to the other.

“As you’re moving through the neighborhood, don’t zig-zag from house to house, from one house across the street to the other house across the street. Stay on the same side of the road and find a safe place to cross, whether that’s an intersection or a marked crosswalk,” Mettmann said.

Driver safety

For drivers, Alexander says they need to put down all distractions such as their phones, look both ways at every intersection, make eye contact with a pedestrian to make sure everyone sees each other, and slow down at every crosswalk.

“If a car is stopped in the travel lane, don’t pass that car until you know for sure why they’re stopped,” Mettmann said. “Be patient with pedestrians, especially during Halloween. Many young kids are trick-or-treating for the first time and are still learning how to be safe.”