Soon all the ghouls and goblins will roaming the street, going to Halloween costume parties and trick or treating with their friends through neighborhoods across the country. People will be dressed up in costume of their favorite superhero or scary creatures as they walk through the town. This is also the time to be on high alert, whether you are driving or a pedestrian. Accidents can happen easily especially when costumes are involved.

If you are driving during this time of year, there are a few safety tips that may help prevent an accident. If you are driving at night, make sure your headlights are functioning properly to provide plenty of light to see oncoming traffic as well as pedestrians walking. Pedestrians may walk in the street or sidewalks when provided, however they might not be focused or see you coming while they are walking. Keep in mind the costumes they are wearing could limit their ability to see or hear your car coming. If there is a heavy pedestrian traffic area, drive slow and pay close attention to the road to prevent a crash from happening.

Also as with any other time, refrain from using your cell phone while driving. This distraction could leave you unfocused on the road for several hundred yards in a short amount of time and unaware of the surroundings. The trick or treating season is an exciting time for children. They can become overjoyed when going house to house collecting their favorite candy and forget to look for cars before crossing the street. If you are on your cell phone and not focused on the road, this could be a recipe for disaster. Put the phone down it can wait.

Now that we have reviewed some safety tips to keep in mind when driving, here are a few for those enjoying the festivities and walking around as well. Some costumes are meant to be dark and camouflage to show a creepy, realistic portrayal of the character you are dressed as. However, this can be detrimental to you when walking at night or in dimly let areas. If you plan on wearing a costume that could be potentially hard to see at night you must be extra cautious.

Do not walk in the street unless you absolutely have to. Use a sidewalk whenever possible. If you have to walk into or cross a street make sure to look for traffic before entering the street. Keep in mind although you may see the car, the person driving the car might not see you.  If you are in a crosswalk make eye contact with the driver before crossing. Do not cross in the middle of the street, and use crosswalks whenever possible.

Another safety tip during this time is to make sure you can clearly see and hear when in your costume. Some costumes have masks or helmets that must be worn, make sure you are able to see clearly through them and hear as if you normally would. If you visibility is limited wait until you have reached your final destination to put the head gear on.

If you or your children plan on partaking in the trick or treating event, make sure everyone in your party is safe. Do not run or walk into the street to go to the next house with first checking to make sure the roads are safe. Wait at a safe distance away from the road before walking into the street. Remember the drivers may not see that you are walking and do not expect them to see you either. Take your time when crossing the street and make sure you can do it at a safe crosswalk or section of the street.

Halloween is time for fun and celebration. It is also a time for costume parties and candy collecting. But remember this time is also when accidents can happen. Always make sure you are aware of your surroundings and are careful when entering the street, whether it is in car or on foot. Be sure you are able to see and hear clearly to prevent any unexpected accidents from happening. But most of all remember to enjoy the Halloween season safety so that you can continue the celebration for years to come.