MONROE - With Halloween approaching, more children will be walking and riding around as they celebrate with family and friends. That means an increase in young trick-or-treaters potentially darting across roadways or wandering in front of alleys and driveways.
The U.S. Postal Service is asking parents and school officials to remind children about taking extra precautions to avoid potential accidents around mailboxes and postal vehicles.
The Postal Service has talked to employees about working on Halloween and the days leading up to it, including safety concerns, especially when it comes to road and pedestrian safety.
The National Safety Council reported that motor vehicle incidents on Halloween resulted in about 6,700 pedestrian deaths in 2015. NSC research revealed about 17 percent of these deaths occurred when pedestrians improperly crossed roads or intersections. Lack of visibility because of low lighting or dark clothing accounted for about 15 percent of the deaths. Other circumstances varied by age: Darting or running into the road accounted for about 15 percent of deaths in kids ages 5 to 9 and 7 percent for those ages 10 to 15.
Some safety tips kids and parents can use while trick-or-treating are: put any electronic devices down and be aware of the surroundings; avoid walking on roadways, medians and curbs; avoid entering and exiting alleys and parking lots; at twilight and later in the evening, watch for cars, trucks and postal vehicles; and stay out of driveways.
The U.S. Postal Service is asking parents and school officials to remind children about taking extra precautions to avoid potential accidents around mailboxes and postal vehicles.
The Postal Service has talked to employees about working on Halloween and the days leading up to it, including safety concerns, especially when it comes to road and pedestrian safety.
The National Safety Council reported that motor vehicle incidents on Halloween resulted in about 6,700 pedestrian deaths in 2015. NSC research revealed about 17 percent of these deaths occurred when pedestrians improperly crossed roads or intersections. Lack of visibility because of low lighting or dark clothing accounted for about 15 percent of the deaths. Other circumstances varied by age: Darting or running into the road accounted for about 15 percent of deaths in kids ages 5 to 9 and 7 percent for those ages 10 to 15.
Some safety tips kids and parents can use while trick-or-treating are: put any electronic devices down and be aware of the surroundings; avoid walking on roadways, medians and curbs; avoid entering and exiting alleys and parking lots; at twilight and later in the evening, watch for cars, trucks and postal vehicles; and stay out of driveways.