Saturday, Oct. 31, is Halloween, and across the country, children will be dressing up in
costumes to venture across their town’s streets to trick-or-treat.
While Halloween is a time for fun, it can also be dangerous for trick-or-treaters and those on the
road.
The Merrimac Police Department would like to share the following Halloween safety tips with
residents:
● Slow down when driving in residential areas, as trick-or-treaters mostly frequent areas
with houses that will grant them candy.
● Make use of high beams later in the evening when driving in these areas, as the lack of
sunlight may make it difficult to see children in darker costumes.
● Follow all traffic guidelines put into place by law enforcement, including road closures.
Seek alternate routes to your destination if necessary.
● If you are out on the porch handing out candy, remain vigilant and alert parents and/or
children if an inattentive driver is near the crash vicinity.
● Park all cars in your driveway to allow safe passageways for vehicles in order to not put
drivers or pedestrians at risk.
● Parents of children aged 4-10 should remain with their child at all times and make sure
they are by their side.
● Make sure children are wearing weather-appropriate and reflective clothing with their
costumes.
● Choose face paint instead of masks, as masks can obstruct vision.
● Give children flashlights to carry with them.
● Make sure costumes are the correct size to prevent falls.