‘Bury’ bad driving habits this Halloween

IDAHO FALLS — Halloween is one of the deadliest days of the year. Children are twice as likely to be killed by a car on Halloween night as on any other night of the year, according to AAA.

It’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of the spooky season as kids dress up and go door-to-door collecting treats from friends and neighbors. But before you head out to trick-or-treat, “bury” some bad driving habits first.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office offers these tips to keep your adorable superheroes, ghosts, princesses, or pop icons safe this Halloween season.

Tips for Drivers

• Keep your windows clear. It gets dark earlier this time of year and there is a chance of inclement weather, which also decreases visibility.
• There will be more pedestrians than usual. Expect to see kids in costumes and parents walking in neighborhoods and around parked cars on the side of the road.
• Be patient and slow down. Cars will be pulling in and out of driveways or entering traffic from the roadside.
• Be extra watchful. Remember, kids’ costumes don’t always provide the best vision to watch out for motorists and they may not notice or see you.
• For parents driving kids around, be watchful of traffic around you and choose safe places to pull off for kids to get in and out of your vehicle.

Tips for Parents

• Talk to your kids about watching for cars, staying on sidewalks and using care when crossing the street with their costumes.
• Supervise your little ones. Be the extra eyes watching for traffic and supervising which doors your kids knock on.
• Stay local. Trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods.

Extra Safety Precautions

• Talk to kids about avoiding houses that are dark or obviously not participating in Halloween events.
• Remind children they should never go into a home to get their treat.
• Teach kids about respecting people’s property.