The Texas Department of Transportation’s El Paso District used community events and school presentations in October to promote pedestrian and vehicle safety in the weeks leading up to Halloween, according to a TxDOT news story published Oct. 29.
The agency said October and November are the two months when pedestrian crashes are most likely to happen in Texas, as Halloween brings more people outside after dark and the end of daylight saving time makes evenings darker.
“As Halloween approaches, we increase our pedestrian safety messaging by participating in community trunk-or-treats, fall fairs, and outdoor family activities to ensure people aren’t only thinking about candy and costumes, but also have safety top of mind,” said Stephanie Carbajal-Atilano, a TxDOT traffic safety specialist in El Paso.
According to the story, events such as National Night Out, Red Ribbon events and trunk-or-treats brought traffic safety directly to the community. Outreach teams shared tips with children and parents on pedestrian and bicycle safety, emphasizing the importance of staying visible after dark, using sidewalks and crosswalks, and remaining alert around traffic during Halloween festivities. TxDOT said school outreach helped students and families build safer habits through interactive presentations and community partnerships.
Throughout October, the district also held car seat inspections to help parents and caregivers ensure children were properly restrained, and it ran a rollover convincer demonstration to show the lifesaving value of seat belts, the agency said. During National Teen Driver Safety Week, students at local high schools learned about impaired and distracted driving, pedestrian safety and responsible decision-making.
The story noted that the El Paso Police Department is one of hundreds of municipal law enforcement entities across the state reminding the public to do their part for the holiday. TxDOT said that with more children and pedestrians out after dark, extra caution can go a long way.