PennDOT Warns Motorists to Watch Out for Trick-or-Treaters

Parents Urged to Teach Safe Habits to Children, Choose Safe Costumes

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With many communities holding trick-or-treat nights this week, PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler today urged motorists to slow down and watch carefully for little princesses, witches and pirates.

"Children are unpredictable – and even more so when they're excited – which means motorists need to slow down and expect the unexpected," said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E. "We're also asking parents to help by reviewing safety tips with their children and helping them to choose safe costumes."

Motorists should be extremely cautious on neighborhood streets as children may dart out between parked vehicles or walk on the side of the road.

In addition to motorists, parents and guardians can help increase safety and visibility of children by following a few simple tips:

• Buy or make brightly-colored, highly-visible costumes that do not interfere with a child's ability to see, hear or walk;
• Consider adding strips of reflective tape to darker-colored costumes or trick-or-treat bags;
• Encourage children to carry a flashlight or glow stick;
• Accompany young children while they are trick-or-treating;
• Remind children to pay attention to their surroundings and to look both ways before crossing a street; and
• Tell children to walk instead of run and to stay on sidewalks whenever possible.

Visit PennDOT online at www.dot.state.pa.us. Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews.

Media contact: Alison Wenger, 717-783-8800

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation