Vision Check Form The Car Care Council

    BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 25 -- It's scary, but true; the number of
deaths among young pedestrians is four times higher on Halloween evenings than
the rest of the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.  Under the best conditions, it's difficult to spot those little
devils and witches darting out into the street, but paired with a streaky
windshield or a burned out headlight, the results could be tragic, cautions
the Car Care Council.
    "Treat your car to a quick vision check.  You might just save the life of
a tiny trick or treater in your neighborhood," said Rich White, spokesman for
the council.
    The council suggests a few simple things you can do to prepare your car
for Halloween:

    Replace windshield wiper blades.  Old blades often skip and create streaks
on your windshield, making visibility difficult.  Wiper blades can sometimes
appear ok, but can do a poor job of cleaning the windshield.  Impaired vision
on a rainy Halloween night can make it virtually impossible to see a tiny
vampire or Power Ranger crossing the street.

    Check headlights and taillights.  When a bulb burns out, vehicle safety is
compromised.  Make sure all lights are working, even taillights, since many
Halloween accidents occur when motorists are backing out of driveways.  After
you have checked all of your lights and replaced any burned-out bulbs, make
sure to wipe down the glass covering the lights, for maximum visibility.

    "Remember, young children lack the physical ability to rapidly cross the
street, and their short stature limits their visibility to drivers.  It's the
motorists' responsibility to look out for children on Halloween, and all other
days of the year," White said.
    The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care
Aware" campaign, educating consumers about the benefits of regular vehicle
care, maintenance and repair.
    For more information visit http://www.carcarecouncil.org.