Texas DPS: Halloween safety tips for families

AUSTIN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Public Safety is reminding all Texans to stay safe this Halloween.

DPS provided the following Halloween safety tips during trick-or-treating:

1. Ensure costumes are bright and reflective by adding reflective tape to darker costumes to help drivers see trick-or-treaters at night.
2. Use face paint instead of masks that could obstruct vision.
3. Walk on sidewalks and utilize crosswalks.
4. Carry glow sticks, flashlights, or wearable lights to increase overall visibility.
5. Use soft and flexible accessories such as pirate swords or wands that are not sharp.
6. Have a prearranged meet-up location, in case your group is separated.
7. Travel with adult supervision and stay in familiar neighborhoods.
8. Discuss the importance of only visiting well-lit houses and never entering a stranger’s home or car for candy.
9. Make sure children know the phone number of an adult and how to call 911 in case they become lost.
10. After trick-or-treating, take all goodies home for an adult to inspect before eating, and never consume any items that don’t have a wrapper.
11. Know the neighborhood, visit the Texas Public Sex Offender Registry, which includes a map of where the registered sex offenders reside in a given area.

DPS also reminds drivers to plan a sober ride, put the phone away, and slow down for pedestrians, especially children.

The Texas agency has the following Halloween safety tips for drivers:

1. Don’t drink and drive. Make alternate plans if you consume alcohol.
2. Be aware as a driver – don’t assume children are paying attention to your vehicle.
3. Buckle up, everyone in the vehicle — it’s the law.
4. Slow down, with the number of children walking the streets on Halloween, reducing your speed is necessary.
5. Use caution when going through neighborhoods and other trick-or-treat locations.
6. Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of mobile devices. Texas law prohibits the use of portable wireless devices to read, write, or send an electronic message unless the vehicle is stopped. If you’re using a navigation device or app, have a passenger operate it so you can keep your eyes on the road.
7. Drive defensively, as Halloween can have additional challenges.