Halloween Safety Tips

The Wall Township Police Department would like to share some safety tips with its residents that are listed below. Also, we would like our community to use extra caution while walking on residential streets or roadways due to a very unfortunate statistic that on average children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and injured on Halloween than on any other day of the year. With this in mind, the Wall Township Police Department would like to share several easy and effective behaviors that parents can share with their kids to help reduce their risk of injury.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe

When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls
Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by other drivers.

Walk Safely

Children under 12 should trick-or-treat and cross streets with an adult. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street
Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings
Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never run out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Children under 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
Take extra time to look for children at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
Enter and exit driveways slowly and carefully.
Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
Drive slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from a greater distance.

Double Check Candy and Customes

Check treats for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them.
Remind children to eat only treats in original, unopened wrappers.
Candy should be thrown away if the wrapper is faded or torn, or if candy is unwrapped.
While glow sticks are good for visibility, remember that the liquid in glow sticks is also hazardous, so parents should remind children not to chew on or break them.

Residents and the community should also check with their local municipalities to see if there are ordinances pertaining to curfew times. In Wall Township, ordinance 93-3 it is unlawful for a juvenile to be on any public street or in any public place between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on October 29,30,31 and November 1 of each year, unless accompanied by the juvenile’s parents or guardian, or unless engages in or traveling to or from a business occupation, engaged in an errand involving a medical emergency or attendance at an extracurricular school activity; an activity sponsored by a religious or community based organization. It shall be unlawful for any parent or guardian to allow an unaccompanied juvenile to be on any public street or in any public place.