Halloween Cars Pose a Greater Risk to Children Than Candy
Children face triple the odds of being struck by a vehicle on Halloween compared with other days, Safe Kids Worldwide president Torine Creppy said. A separate review of national collision data showed that 45 children died as pedestrians on Halloween between 2010 and 2024. A 2019 study found the risk was especially high for children ages 4 to 8.
Costumes, darkness and increased pedestrian traffic can make it harder for drivers and children to see one another. The study also noted that masks can limit peripheral vision and costumes can reduce visibility. Across all ages, pedestrian deaths were 43 percent higher on Halloween than on a typical evening, the report said.
Creppy advised families to choose costumes that fit, use face paint instead of masks when possible, and add reflective items, glow sticks or a flashlight to dark clothing. She also urged parents to check candy before young children eat it, because some pieces can pose a choking risk. Trick-or-treaters should use designated crosswalks and stay alert.
Maryland State Highway Administration communications deputy director Charlie Gischlar urged drivers to stay sober, put away phones and slow down in residential neighborhoods. He also encouraged pedestrians and bicyclists to wear bright colors so they are easier to see.
The danger extends beyond Halloween: injuries from motor vehicles rank second among causes of death for US children, behind gun injuries, and pedestrian deaths have reached a 40-year high. Advocates point to street design and larger vehicles as factors. Some communities are planning car-free Halloween areas; New York City’s “Trick or Streets” program is set to create 100 car-free zones from 4 to 8 p.m. Longer-term proposals include better lighting, sidewalks and streets designed to make walking safer.
Safer Streets Should Be the Halloween Priority
Halloween’s danger is not hidden candy but streets built around cars. Children face triple the odds of being struck by a vehicle on the holiday compared with other days, and national collision data show that 45 children died as pedestrians on Halloween from 2010 through 2024.
The risk is especially severe for children ages 4 to 8. Darkness, masks and costumes can make it harder for children and drivers to see one another, while the broader toll of pedestrian deaths has reached a 40-year high. Injuries from motor vehicles rank second among causes of death for US children, behind gun injuries.
Families can reduce immediate risks with well-fitting costumes, face paint instead of masks when possible, reflective clothing and flashlights. Drivers should stay sober, put away phones and slow down in neighborhoods. But asking children to compensate for dangerous streets is not enough: advocates argue that communities need sidewalks, lighting and street designs that put people’s safety ahead of moving cars quickly.
Some cities are making room for safer celebrations. New York City plans 100 car-free zones through its “Trick or Streets” program from 4 to 8 p.m. on Halloween. Such steps point toward a basic standard advocates say every community should meet: children should be able to walk around without being put at avoidable risk.
Halloween Safety Starts With Alert Families and Drivers
With children three times more likely to be hit by a vehicle on Halloween than on other days, families and drivers need to take the danger seriously. Federal crash records show 45 children were killed while walking on Halloween from 2010 through 2024, with the risk particularly high for children ages 4 to 8.
The immediate steps are clear: choose costumes that fit, use face paint instead of masks when possible, and add reflective materials, glow sticks or a flashlight to dark clothing. Parents should inspect candy before young children eat it because some pieces can cause choking. Children should cross at designated crosswalks and remain alert.
Drivers also have a direct responsibility. Maryland transportation officials urged motorists to drive sober, avoid phone use, watch carefully and slow down in residential neighborhoods. Bright clothing can help pedestrians and bicyclists stand out.
Some communities are also closing streets to traffic for Halloween, including New York City, which plans 100 car-free zones from 4 to 8 p.m. The focus should remain on practical safety measures for families, pedestrians and motorists alike as neighborhoods prepare for an evening with more children outdoors.
