See & Be Seen This Halloween

Thousands of young ghouls, ghosts & goblins are expected to hit the streets of Atlanta and surrounding communities this year for Halloween. Although trick or treating will look very different due to COVID-19, we still expect to see kids in costume walking through neighborhoods, admiring decorations, participating in socially distanced scavenger hunts, and having fun from afar.

As families make preparations for a safe Halloween, we at Spaulding Injury Law also want to remind you of the importance of pedestrian safety on this special night. Just as motorists have a duty to watch out for little walkers, pedestrians also have a duty to “See & Be Seen.”

What Is the See & Be Seen Campaign?

The Georgia Department of Transportation’s “See & Be Seen” campaign is not just for Halloween. Its goal is to make Georgia a safer place for pedestrians all year round. Unfortunately, over the past few years, pedestrian fatalities in Georgia have been on the rise. So the DOT is calling on both pedestrians and drivers to do their part and put a stop to this.

Pedestrians are urged to

follow the rules of the road, make eye contact with approaching drivers, avoid distractions from phones, and stick to areas where they can easily be seen.

Drivers are urged to

slow down, avoid blocking crosswalks, double-check for pedestrians when making turns, and avoid passing vehicles that are stopped at crosswalks.

How Is Spaulding Injury Law Helping?

Spaulding Injury Law wants to bring awareness to the See & Be Seen campaign particularly as we approach Halloween. This is a night that creates lasting memories for both children and parents alike. We want to make sure everyone enjoys it safely and avoids the potential for a Halloween car accident. We urge parents to talk frankly with their kids about the dangers of walking at night.

Our team is providing Halloween safety tips to help ensure kids are ready to See & Be Seen on Oct. 31.

Halloween Safety Preparations

Consider costumes with bright colors. Add reflective tape to costumes to help make them more visible to drivers.

Avoid costumes with masks, which can obstruct the ability to see clearly. (The CDC is also warning that Halloween costume masks are not effective substitutes for cloth masks worn for COVID.)

Be sure the costume is a good fit and doesn’t drag on the ground, causing a tripping hazard.

Choose sensible and comfortable shoes.

Map out your trick or treating route ahead of time to determine the best places to safely cross streets.

Everyone in your group should carry a flashlight or glowstick. You may consider glow necklaces and bracelets, for both safety and fun.

Children younger than 12 should be supervised. Kids who are old enough to go without an adult should use the buddy system and stay on a route they know well.

All children should carry an ID card (this can be homemade) with their name, address, emergency contact, and allergy information on it.

Safety Tips While Walking

Stay on the sidewalks whenever possible. If you have to walk in the road, walk facing traffic.

Be aware of cars backing out of driveways or pulling in to park.

Cross the street at crosswalks, traffic signals, and intersections where drivers are most aware of pedestrians. Be sure to look both ways before stepping out into the street. Never enter a street from between parked cars.

Focus on having fun in real life and put down your phone. Distractions can be dangerous for pedestrians, especially when approaching intersections or crossing the street.

5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Popular trick-or-treating hours

82%

fatalities in pedestrian accidents happen at night

90%

of fatalities happen outside a crosswalk

33%

of fatalities are due to drivers not yielding to pedestrians

33%

of fatalities are attributed to pedestrians

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