LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (State Farm) -- Halloween is considered the "deadliest day for child pedestrian accidents," according to a State Farm study which looked at 21 years of data-1990 through 2010.
The average number of fatalities on October 31 was 5.5, which was slightly more than double the average of 2.6 fatalities for other days. The study looked at fatalities for children ages 0 to 18 years.
The study also revealed that the most deadly hour was 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
To combat this statistic, the company spokesperson, Gary Stephenson, stated, "Parents, grandparents, and other caregivers should never let their guard down when it comes to basic safety practices."
Some safety reminders include:
- If your child is going door-to-door go with them, stay on sidewalks, and use reflective tape on costumes. It Is also a good idea to walk with a flashlight, especially if streets are poorly lighted.
- Children going out without a parent should go in groups and follow the same guidelines.
- If you have to walk in the street, keep to the far left, facing the traffic, and remember it is usually safest to cross streets at intersections, where traffic is typically stopping. In the study, over 70% of accidents occurred in the mid-block area, away from intersections.
Young drivers, ages 15 to 25 years accounted for about one-third of the fatal accidents. Stephenson encourages drivers to put away all distractions when driving through residential areas on Halloween night, stating, "You know that in the early evening hours, there will likely be foot-traffic. Turn off the radio, avoid cell phone use, and slow down. Make this a safe time for everyone."
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