EDITORIAL: Play it safe on Halloween

Halloween, by nature, is an observance that celebrates scary things. People, however, should take precautions to ensure all the chills thrills for children are from their imagination only, not from real-life tragedy.

Nothing is worse than a report that a child has been injured — or worse — while engaging in an activity that should be fun.

The biggest concern is on roadways, particularly neighborhood streets. Children get excited during events like trick-or-treating and can dart into a street in a split-second. A motorist who’s not paying close attention while traveling down a street in a neighborhood where pint-sized witches, goblins and superheroes are out looking for treats can find himself or herself in a life-or-death situation involving a child. Many children likely will still be out after the sun sets at 6:49 p.m. Tuesday night. Vision during dusk simply isn’t as good, so it’s imperative that drivers be alert.

It should go without saying that a motorist should not get behind the steering wheel of an auto if he or she has been drinking. Impaired driving is a leading cause of fatal wrecks, but the danger increases even more on nights when the streets have a great deal of foot traffic, especially when those feet are small and unpredictable. There is no excuse for driving drunk and injuring or killing a pedestrian, regardless of the age of the victim.

But drinking is not the only impairment. A driver can’t allow himself or herself to be distracted, especially around kids on the go. Chatting on the phone, texting, even moving slowly while you watch kids in their costumes and not the street ahead of you all can be deadly mistakes. Both creeping autos and children running to a house across the street move more quickly than you think. It only takes a second of looking down at the radio settings, pealing a piece of candy or looking to see who a message is from while a car is moving to result in tragedy.

Parents of children also have responsibilities. Children, especially young children, should not be out trick-or-treating without a parent, guardian or someone the parent has entrusted to supervise the child. They should be reminded of the dangers of darting into the streets, and their costumes should be reflective of car lights. They should have a flashlight or other illumination so they can see where they are going. In that respect, their costume should not include a mask that impairs their vision. Make sure eyeholes enable them to see clearly. Trick-or-treaters also should only visit residences where the adult knows the occupant and feels the treats will be safe. An adult should inspect the treats — inspect, not eat them — before the youngster unwraps any, and unwrapped edible treats should be discarded.

Plus, it’s advisable to pace out the rate of treat consumption so your little ghoul isn’t green from a stomach ache instead of makeup.

Halloween, as we said, is an observance stoked by the imagination, and that is where the frightening tales associated with it should remain. Approach it safely. Young lives depend on it.