Kids and Car Safety Encourages a Safety Focused Halloween

October 30, 2025/Joe Ciccanti

Children are more than twice as likely to be struck by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other day of the year. The national nonprofit Kids and Car Safety is bringing awareness to this increased risk. Safety advocates are calling on parents and caregivers to ensure proper supervision, light up their little ghosts and goblins and talk to their children about safety while trick or treating. Traffic-related child safety concerns apply to any time during the year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every week, at least 110 children are backed over or run over in parking lots and driveways while more than 100 are struck on public roadways nationwide. Over the past decade, pedestrian fatalities have continued to increase.

 

Additional Information from Kids and Car Safety:

Children under 12 should be directly supervised by a responsible adult. Young children cannot be seen directly in front or behind a vehicle by the driver, even when using their rear and side view mirrors. A blindzone exists in front, on the side and behind ALL vehicles where the driver is unable to see a young child. Most drivers are completely unaware that a child could be standing directly in front of their vehicle and not be seen. The front blindzone on a larger truck or SUV can be up to fifteen feet long and the rear blindzone up to fifty feet!

The bigger the vehicle, the bigger the blindzone. The popularity of larger, heavier trucks and SUVs has contributed to a serious increase in frontover fatalities of children. In fact, approximately 80% of new vehicle sales are trucks and SUVs. The bottom line is that you cannot avoid hitting what you cannot see.

Children age five and under are the most at risk for being run over because a driver cannot see them. Very young children lack impulse control and don’t have the cognitive ability to truly understand danger. They don’t respect boundaries lines like the one between the street and yard. On Halloween, lack of visibility because of low lighting at night plays a factor in these incidents.

“Talk to children about the dangers around vehicles — but never rely on them to protect themselves,” said Amber Rollins, Director of Kids and Car Safety. “Even the most cautious child can make a split-second mistake. Children live in the moment — they’re thinking about candy, not danger. In just one second, a family’s life can change forever. It’s our job as adults to stay alert, stay aware, and keep them safe.”

 

Halloween Safety Tips from Kids and Car Safety

  • If you don’t have to drive on Halloween, stay home.
  • If you must drive, be extra cautious and slow, especially in neighborhoods, expect children to dart out from anywhere.
  • Children under the age of 12 should be directly supervised by an adult at all times.
  • Children should wear glow sticks, carry flashlights, and use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags.
  • Wear light colors to help kids see and be seen by drivers.
  • E-bikes and scooters are extremely dangerous for children. If your family has one, please leave it at home on Halloween due to the increased risk and always make sure your child is wearing a properly graded helmet for the speed. Far too many children have lost their lives on e-bikes and scooters, even those wearing a helmet.
  • Avoid masks that limit a child’s vision.
  • Teach children to watch out for vehicles that are turning or backing up out of driveways. Remind them that drivers cannot see them.
  • Slow down and stay alert!
  • Always walk, never run while trick-or-treating.
  • Put down phones. Keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings.
  • Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there’s no walkway, walk facing traffic and as far left as possible.
  • Cross the street at corners and always look left, right and left again before crossing.
  • Costumes should be the right size to prevent trips and falls – choose face paint over masks when possible.

Kids and Car Safety is a national nonprofit dedicated to saving the lives of young children and pets in and around vehicles.

 
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