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Keep Halloween Frightfully Fun By Preventing Potential Dangers

Auto Club Offers Safety Tips And Free Community Event In Los Angeles Sunday

Pumpkin rear view mirror
Photo courtesy of AAA

The Automobile Club of Southern California wants everyone to celebrate safely this Halloween. Drivers, pedestrians, party hosts, and homeowners can all take steps to avoid many common hazards that occur over the holiday.

To help kids and their families prepare for fun, safe trick-or-treating this year, the Auto Club is hosting a pre-Halloween community event Sunday, Oct. 30 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Historic Auto Club Building in Los Angeles located at 2601 S. Figueroa St.

The free event, with Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr. and Southern California Families for Safe Streets, will feature:

  • Trick-or-treating
  • Safe costume tips and demonstrations
  • Giveaways and prizes
  • Games and activities
  • Information/demonstrations about how to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe

To register for the event and a chance to win an Apple iPad, go to halloweensafety.aceclub-events.com.

With Halloween falling on a weekday, drivers will need to take extra precautions as they commute home from work, while parents and trick-or-treaters as well as homeowners should also make safety a top priority.

Tips for Drivers

  • Avoid neighborhood shortcuts. If possible, avoid cutting through residential streets where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present. When providing directions to a party, try not to route guests through neighborhoods unnecessarily.
  • Watch for children in the street. Watch for children walking on streets, medians and curbs. Excited trick-or-treaters, often in dark costumes, may not pay attention to traffic and cross mid-block or between parked cars.
  • Slow down. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian is more than twice as likely to be killed if they’re hit by a car traveling at 35 mph compared to 25 mph.  What seems like a small difference—just 10 mph—can be the difference between life and death.
  • Drive sober.  Alcohol-impaired drivers make up about one-third of all motor vehicle deaths resulting in an average of one death every 45 minutes. Always designate a sober driver if you plan to drink.  

Parent/Pedestrian Tips

  • Trick-or-Treat together.  AAA recommends that parents accompany young trick-or-treaters at least until the age of 12. 
  • Review safety precautions with children. Include traffic safety rules in the review such as stay on the sidewalk, cross the street at crosswalks, avoid walking in front of, behind or between parked cars and stop at driveways to make sure no vehicles are coming in and out.
  • Select highly visible costumes. Look for light, bright and reflective costumes that make trick-or-treaters easy to see. Add reflective tape to costumes and treat buckets and bags to increase visibility.
  • Check costumes. Choose disguises that don't obstruct vision and opt for non-toxic face paint instead of masks. Check and adjust the length of costumes to avoid tripping and add reflective material or tape to keep kids visible.
  • Get a flashlight with fresh batteries. A flashlight can help trick-or-treaters see and be seen, but it should never be directed at someone’s eyes including those of passing motorists.
  • Buckle up.  If driving trick-or-treaters between neighborhoods, always use appropriate car seats and have children exit and enter on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Homeowner Safety Tips

  • Avoid using lit candles or open flames as decoration. These present a fire hazard as they can easily be knocked over by excited trick or treaters. Instead use LED products made by credible manufacturers. Ensure that all wires and connectors are in good shape and that no wires are exposed. Make sure that all smoke detectors are in good working order with fresh batteries.
  • Ensure that walkways around your home are free of obstructions, such as water hoses, newspapers, garden tools, toys, rocks, and/or Halloween decorations. Also check to make sure sidewalks and porches do not have large cracks or uneven surfaces that could cause trick or treaters to fall.
  • Secure your home as thieves may look for a window of opportunity while you’re away. Make sure all doors and windows are locked, your home is well lit, and if you have a home security alarm, activate it.

Halloween Party Tips

For those who plan to celebrate Halloween events, the Auto Club recommends the following to prevent driving while impaired by alcohol, marijuana or any substance that affects driving skills:

  • Make plans to get home safely. If celebrating with alcohol, arrange for a designated driver, cab or ride sharing service to be available to and from the party location.
  • Consider an overnight stay. If attending a party at a friend’s home, consider asking to stay overnight. If participating in festivities in a downtown or commercial area, look into hotel accommodations within walking distance.
  • Have safe transportation options readyIf hosting a party with alcohol, compile a list of phone numbers including local cab companies and organizations offering designated driver services to have readily available should guests need a safe way home.
  • Think about designated drivers and offer alternatives to alcoholPlan to have non-alcoholic drink options available for designated drivers and others. Serve plenty of food so partygoers do not drink on empty stomachs. 

 

Media Contacts

Doug Shupe
LA-based media contact
(512) 659-1632
shupe.doug@aaa-calif.com
Anlleyn Venegas
Public Affairs Specialist. Spanish-Language Media Spokesperson , Auto Club Enterprises
(619) 565-4556
Venegas.Anlleyn@ace.aaa.com
CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.