(Downtown Sheldon - KIWA Staff Photo)Iowa (RI) — Halloween is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for pedestrians, according to a University of Iowa researcher who studies pedestrian safety.
Elizabeth O’Neal, a University of Iowa professor of community and behavioral health, says Halloween creates a unique combination of factors that increase risks for children crossing streets.
O’Neal says older children can face additional risks because they are more likely to trick-or-treat with friends and without direct adult supervision.
She recommends choosing costumes that improve visibility when possible and using items such as glow sticks or reflective accessories to help drivers spot trick-or-treaters.
Research conducted by O’Neal and her team found that children often make less-safe crossing decisions when they are with friends.
O’Neal says parents play a key role in teaching children safe street-crossing habits and reinforcing those lessons while trick-or-treating.
