Trick-or-Treaters and Traffic a Deadly Combination on Halloween

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--On Halloween, a night reserved for scary costumes, ghost stories and horror movies, a very real danger often goes ignored until it is too late.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide (formerly the National SAFE KIDS Coalition), children are four times more likely to die as pedestrians on Halloween than any other night of the year.

“Most of these tragedies are preventable,” said Joyce Prager, Assistant Vice President, Community Relations, for 21st Century Insurance . “Halloween should be fun, but parents, teachers, motorists and children must focus on safety to ensure our children are protected from one of the holiday’s biggest dangers.”

Prager points out that the safety rules most children learn at a young age – such as looking both ways for traffic and crossing streets only at intersections – are easily lost during the excitement of dressing up and racing from house-to-house collecting candy.

That makes it incumbent upon adults to emphasize safety to their children and in their own driving habits.

“Drivers must stay alert, because children are far more excited about racing to the next house on their route than looking both ways before crossing the street,” she said.

Prager offered a set of tips that everyone should follow when they leave the house on Halloween:

Tips for Parents and Trick-or-Treaters

-- A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young
   children around the neighborhood.

-- Walk, don't run!
    -- Walk on sidewalks and up driveways; don't cut across yards or
       driveways
    -- If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road
       facing traffic
    -- Cross the street at the corner or in a crosswalk, and cover one
       side of the street at a time - no criss-crossing

-- Design costumes with safety in mind:
    -- Make sure costumes don't drag on the ground to decrease the
       risk of tripping
    -- Shoes should fit properly (even if they don't go with a
       costume) to make walking safe and simple
    -- Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house - they
       obscure vision; consider using face paint instead
    -- Wear light-colored costumes or clothing with reflective
       markings or tape, or wear glow necklaces and bracelets to make
       trick-or-treaters visible to drivers

-- Carry a flashlight but don't flash it at drivers


Drivers - Stay Alert on the Road

-- Stay alert!
    -- Reduce your speed in residential neighborhoods and watch for
       children dashing out into the street

-- When dropping pedestrians off, make sure children always exit the
   vehicle curbside

-- Don't Drink and Drive


Everyone - Prevent Drunk Driving

-- If hosting a Halloween party, have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks
   and food available

-- Arrange a designated driver for those who are drinking alcohol

-- If preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base such as
   fruit juice; alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster when
   it has a carbonated base

-- Stop serving alcohol 90 minutes before the party ends; serve
   dessert and coffee, instead

About 21st

Founded in 1958, 21st Century Insurance Group is a direct-to-consumer provider of personal auto insurance. With $1.4 billion of revenue in 2005, the company insures over 1.5 million vehicles in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. 21st provides superior policy features and 24/7 customer service at a competitive price. Customers can purchase insurance, service their policy or report a claim at www.21st.com or on the phone with our licensed insurance professionals at 1-800-211-SAVE, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Service is offered in English and Spanish both on the phone and on the Web. 21st Century Insurance Company, 21st Century Casualty Company and 21st Century Insurance Company of the Southwest are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s.

21st Century Insurance Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol TW and is headquartered at 21st Century Plaza, 6301 Owensmouth Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367.