Halloween Pedestrian Safety: What COS Parents Need to Know One Week Before Oct. 31
Halloween is one week away, and with it comes one of the most important safety reminders of the year. October 31 is consistently one of the most dangerous evenings for child pedestrians — research from Safe Kids Worldwide shows the fatality risk for kids is approximately 43% higher on Halloween than on comparable fall evenings. Understanding why and knowing how to reduce that risk can make a real difference.
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Advertise hereWhy Halloween Night Is Especially Risky
Several factors combine to make Halloween night more dangerous than a typical evening:
- More children are out on foot simultaneously than on any other evening of the year
- Trick-or-treating often extends into true darkness, when visibility drops sharply
- Children are excited and distracted, more likely to dart into the street without looking
- Many costumes are dark or have limited visibility from the sides and back
- Full-face masks restrict children's peripheral vision, making it harder for them to see approaching cars
- Drivers are also distracted by the unusual street activity
The good news: most of these factors are manageable with a little preparation before you head out.
CSPD Guidance for Colorado Springs Families
The Colorado Springs Police Department recommends that children under 12 trick-or-treat with adult supervision. Teens going out in groups should stay together, stick to well-lit neighborhoods, and let parents know their route.
Key guidance from CSPD for October 31:
- Start trick-or-treating before dark when possible — late afternoon hours are significantly safer
- Stick to familiar, well-lit neighborhoods
- Cross only at crosswalks and designated crossing points
- Walk on sidewalks; if there's no sidewalk, walk facing traffic
- Never assume a driver can see you
Costume Safety Tips
Most Halloween costume injuries and fatalities involve visibility, not the costumes themselves. The following adjustments make a significant difference:
Be visible
Add reflective tape to costumes, bags, and shoes. Glow sticks and battery-powered wands or necklaces are inexpensive and highly effective — kids usually love them. A flashlight is standard equipment for the whole family.
Ditch the full-face mask for face paint
Full-face masks dramatically limit a child's field of vision, making it harder to see cars from the side. Face paint achieves the same look with full visibility. If a costume requires a mask, make sure your child practices wearing it before Halloween night to understand the limitations.
Keep costumes the right length
Long capes and trailing hems are tripping hazards, especially on uneven sidewalks in the dark. Hem or pin costumes to an appropriate length before the big night.
Timing Matters
Going out earlier is the single most effective safety decision you can make. The risk of pedestrian accidents increases significantly after dark. Most trick-or-treating in COS neighborhoods is active between 5 and 8 PM — the earlier part of that window keeps kids in better light.
Most neighborhoods wrap up by 8 PM. Plan to be heading home by then, especially with younger children.
Quick Safety Checklist
| Item | Ready? |
|---|---|
| Reflective tape on costume and bag | |
| Flashlight or glow accessories | |
| Face paint instead of full mask | |
| Costume hemmed to safe length | |
| Route planned through well-lit streets | |
| Adult planned for kids under 12 | |
| Plan to be home by 8 PM |
What's Next
Halloween is Saturday, October 31. Take a few minutes this week to prep costumes for visibility and talk through the route with your kids. The conversation about crosswalks and not assuming drivers can see them is worth having every year — even with older kids who've heard it before.
For local events this weekend, see our Things to Do with Kids in Colorado Springs This Weekend (October 23–25) guide.
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