At a press conference in West Hartford on Thursday, state and local officials and safety advocates provided tips for safe Halloween celebrations.

By Ronni Newton

Road safety is a major focus in West Hartford, where the implementation of a Vision Zero Action Plan is well underway, and on the eve of Halloween state and local officials were in town sharing advice for a safe holiday observance of Halloween as well as other tips for driving and walking in the darker months of the year.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz was joined by state and local officials at King Philip Middle School on Thursday morning, and she and others outlined suggestions for safely celebrating Halloween, along with warnings that with the end of Daylight Saving Time coming this weekend, and the shorter days, drivers and pedestrians need to be even more vigilant.

“With the Halloween holiday coming up there are a lot of families and young people walking all throughout our community and we want to make sure that they are safe,” said West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, welcoming the other officials to town and noting that right outside King Philip Middle School is one of the town’s new raised crosswalks, installed this summer as part of the Vision Zero initiative.

“West Hartford is committed to road safety for all users,” said Cantor. “When you go out tomorrow, I want you to make sure, whether you’re walking or driving to someone’s house … make sure that you are safe and looking out for neighbors,” she said.

“Halloween is a fun and exciting night for families across our state, but it’s also one of the most dangerous nights of the year for pedestrians, especially children.” Bysiewicz said. Nationally, she said, “children are twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween than they are on any other night of the year.”

In the past year, Bysiewicz added, there has been an increase in the number of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities on the state’s roads. According to Watch for Me CT, more than 1,100 pedestrians and bicyclists have been struck and either killed or seriously injured, she said. “We have to do better and we can do better.”

Bysiewicz outlined several “simple but powerful” steps to stay safe on Halloween:

• Walk in groups, with an adult supervising young children.
• Cross at corners, crosswalks, or intersections, not between parked cars.
• Look both ways and stay alert, particularly when crossing driveways.
• Carry flashlights or glow sticks.
• Consider adding reflective tape to costumes or trick-or-treat bags.
• Drivers should slow down, and expect children to run into the street.
• Put the phone down and avoid extra distractions.
• Adults who are attending a Halloween party and choose to drink should arrange for a sober ride home.
• With Daylight Saving Time ending this weekend, our evenings are getting darker and getting darker earlier, so “please stay vigilant, not just tonight, but throughout our fall and winter,” she said.

“Roadway safety is a shared responsibility, and if we watch out for each other we can prevent injuries, save lives, and ensure that our Halloween holiday remains a safe and joyful evening for everyone,” Bysiewicz said.

Ronnell Higgins, the commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), reiterated Bysiewicz’s advice, adding that having Halloween fall on a Friday night can add to the danger. “Slow down and take care,” he said, also adding that adults who plan to enjoy adult beverages call an Uber. “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk, not just on Halloween but any time.”

DESPP is all about collaboration and exists to make communities safer, Higgins said, and all share in emphasizing that while the season can be more dangerous, there is plenty that can be done to make the streets safer.

A representative from the Connecticut State Police reiterated advice already shared, adding that children should wear reflective costumes or tape, children should not go inside strangers’ homes and should travel in groups that include adults, and candy should not be eaten before being inspected by adults.

DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera noted that having Halloween on a Friday night means there is greater likelihood of get togethers and parties, reiterating the advice of others to not drink and drive.

“As parents or grandparents, bring a flashlight with you,” Guerrera added. Drivers should reduce speed, use hazard lights, and “just take your time. We want to make this a fun day for our kids but also want to make it a safe one.”

Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli echoed the advice of others, all of which he said are common sense. “It’s a fun holiday for us … but if you stop and think about a few of these things you can make it safe.”

Cafferelli suggested giving costumes a trial run, to make sure they are comfortable, not a tripping hazard, not flammable, and also that any masks worn don’t obscure vision and are well ventilated. “Make sure you have something bright and visible, whether it’s part of the costume or you carry it with you.”

Cafferelli also advised that residents ensure a clear and well-lit path to their doors, use battery-operated lights rather than candles, and check candy carefully.

“We at DCP are sometimes called the ‘fun-sucking police,'” Cafferelli added. With the end of Daylight Saving Time coming on Sunday, people often ask if that extra hour means an extra hour in the bars. “You do not. You get an extra hour of sleep,” he said.

Assistant Superintendent of West Hartford Public Schools Julio Duarte added that being alert and mindful is critical and in West Hartford, “safety is not just a seasonal message. It is a year-round commitment as evidenced by the town’s commitment to the Vision Zero initiative.”

Duarte said education about pedestrian and bicycle safety happens continuously.

“It is true that children are twice as likely to get hit by a car on Halloween than any other night,” Amy Watkins of Watch for Me CT said. “And that is a really scary statistic.”

Kids are trick-or-treating in the dark, “and we all know that sugar-motivated kids are not making the best roadway decisions,” Watkins  said. “So it’s really up to drivers to take it slowly and keep an eye out.” Peak trick-or-treating times are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. she noted.

Other advice offered by Watkins: new and inexperienced drivers should not be practicing on Halloween, and use face paint rather than masks.

“If you follow all the rules, you will have a safe and happy Halloween,” Watkins said.

Watertown Police Chief Josh Bernegger, who also chairs the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association’s Traffic Safety Committee reiterated the advice provided by others. “Halloween of course is an exciting time for children to dress up in their favorite costumes, and go trick-or-treating, hopefully collecting far more treats than tricks,” he said, but since the sun sets before 6 p.m. and dusk is a time where visibility is greatly reduced.

“Remember, drivers may have a very hard time seeing you,” he said, echoing recommendations about using flashlights and wearing reflective gear.

Along with the important advice about safety, the speakers did share some personal Halloween-related information. “For the record, I prefer Reese’s,” Higgins said, and subsequent speakers also shared their Halloween candy favorites, a list that included Peppermint Patties, Snickers, M&Ms, KitKats, and Three Musketeers bars.

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