The Texas Department of Public Safety is urging Texans to take extra precautions on Halloween, offering safety tips for trick-or-treaters, drivers and families, according to an Oct. 26 news release.
“Halloween should be a night of fun and celebration, not a night of tragedy,” Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee said.
He asked drivers to stay focused and slow down, and asked anyone who is drinking to plan a sober ride home. “Taking a few extra seconds to make the safe choice can help make sure everyone gets home safely,” Rippee said.
DPS cited Safe Kids Worldwide in noting that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a vehicle and killed on Halloween than on any other night of the year.
For trick-or-treaters, the department recommended using reflective tape on dark costumes, choosing face paint over masks, sticking to sidewalks and crosswalks, carrying lights, using soft props and setting a meetup spot. Parents should supervise children, visit only well-lit homes, teach children an adult’s phone number and how to call 911, and inspect candy before anyone eats it, discarding any items without wrappers, the agency said.
Drivers were urged not to drink and drive, to watch for children and not assume they see a vehicle, to slow down in neighborhoods, to buckle up and to avoid phone use. DPS noted that Texas law prohibits reading, writing or sending electronic messages while driving unless the vehicle is stopped.
The department also asked families to store firearms locked in a cabinet or safe, especially when hosting gatherings, and pointed to its Safe Storage Campaign at safegunstoragetexas.com. It warned that fentanyl can be hidden in pills or disguised as candy, and said a single pill containing 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity can report it through the iWatchTexas website or app, or by calling 844-643-2251, DPS said. The agency said reports take less than five minutes and are confidential.