Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween can be a time for fun, but area police departments are warning residents that it can also be dangerous.

Here are some tips on how to stay safe while still having a good time.

Gaithersburg Police Chief Mark P. Sroka warns against the dangers of drunk driving in a message on the city's website.

“There isn’t a Halloween costume clever enough to hide an impaired driver who’s made the poor decision to get behind the wheel,” Sroka said. “Whether you’ve had one too many or way too many it is just not worth the risk. Remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.”

Halloween night is one of the deadliest nights of the year for impaired drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 48 percent of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night (6 p.m. Oct. 31 to 5:59 a.m. Nov. 1) in 2009 involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams of alcohol or higher, which is illegal in every state.

The Gaithersburg Police Department recommends these tips for Halloween:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
• If you’re impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Use the Washington Regional Alcohol Sober Rides program. Call 1-800-200-TAXI (8294).
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact police at 301-279-8000.
• And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.  If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

The Montgomery County Police Department and Chief J. Thomas Manger offer this advice for the rest of the holiday:

Homes

• Welcome trick-or-treaters with porch and exterior lights on
• Make sure your yard is clear of items that might trip children such as hoses and flower pots

Motorists

• Drive slow and use extra caution through neighborhoods

Trick-or-Treating

• Trick-or-Treat only in neighborhoods that are familiar and stop only at homes with outside lights on
• An adult or older sibling should always accompany younger children
• Carry a flashlight
• Older children should trick-or-treat in a group, set a time to return home, carry a cellular phone, and discuss their trick-or-treating route with their parents
• Trick-or-Treaters should walk (not run), use sidewalks when available, cross the street at a corner or crosswalk, and watch for vehicles.

Costumes

• Wear brightly-colored costumes or reflective clothing
• Consider using face make-up instead of wearing a mask – masks can obstruct vision
• Keep costumes short to avoid falling and tripping
• Wear a flame-retardant costume