Pedestrian safety urged on Halloween
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- It's the night that goblins, ghouls, princesses and pirates scour neighborhoods looking for one thing -- candy.
Halloween is meant to be a fun time for kids around the Las Vegas valley.
And a couple of organizations and local police departments want to make sure it is also safe.
A message about pedestrian safety will be given out to parents and students on their way to school today.
Las Vegas police, along with Safe Kids Clark County and members of University Medical Center's Trauma Unit, will be delivering this message early this morning.
They will be telling parents that younger children need escorts while trick-or-treating and everyone should remember not to crisscross streets while trick or treating.
Even after all these reminders, drivers still must expect excited children to dart into the street.
Exactly one year ago, 12-year-old Faith Love was hit and killed by a car while trick-or-treating in the Summerlin area.
Justin Caramanica, the drunk driver that plowed into Love, is being sentenced in the case next week.
Additional tips from AAA:
-- Parents are encouraged to walk with their children door to door while trick-or-treating, showing children safe places to cross the street.
-- Trick-or-treaters should always walk facing traffic if there are no sidewalks available.
-- Children and parents both should wear light-colored clothing or costumes with retro-reflective material for the best visibility to drivers.
-- Use face paint instead of masks for Halloween costumes. Masks can limit the ability to see and hear oncoming traffic.
-- Children should carry flashlights to be seen, but should not shine them into drivers’ eyes.
-- Create a map of the neighborhood so children and parents agree on the safest trick-or-treating route in advance, including only familiar neighborhoods. Go only to houses that are well lit.
-- Motorists should drive slower through neighborhoods (approximately 5 mph slower than the posted speed limit). Children dart from house to house, excited about collecting candy, and they forget about traffic and other dangers. Look for children around porches, front lawns, and other areas adjacent to the road, not just the sidewalks.
In addition, AAA will offer its Tipsy Tow Program for impaired drivers from 6 p.m. Oct. 31 to 6 a.m. Nov. 1 in Northern California, Nevada and Utah.
Members and non-members can call 1-800-222-4357 and tell the operator that they need a Tipsy Tow for a free tow up to five miles.






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