Tips and tricks to stay safe on Halloween
When children in costumes take over the streets on Halloween night,
running from house to house in the dark in search of tasty treats, it is
everyone’s responsibility to take precautions to keep them safe! The City of
Vaughan has many tips to ensure trick-or-treaters and their families have a fun
night out.
Tips for drivers:
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighbourhoods – it may be harder to see people in the dark.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians or curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and laneways with extra caution.
- Obey all traffic signs and signals. Stop at all stop signs and yield to pedestrians.
- Expect the unexpected. Children may cross the street at the wrong place, run into oncoming traffic or ride a bike in front of a vehicle without warning.
- Obey the rules of the road, including posted speed limits.
- Pay attention to your surroundings. Watch for, stop and yield to pedestrians when approaching a pedestrian crossover. Failing to do so may result in fines from York Regional Police of up to $1,000 and four demerit points.
- Avoid distractions within the vehicle and ensure children are secured in a correctly installed child restraint seat if required.
- Ensure children exit on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Tips for guardians and trick-or-treaters:
- Follow all road rules. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals or stop signs and crosswalks. Look left and right when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
- Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk – don’t run – across the street.
- Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them and watch for moving vehicles in driveways and lanes.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Never run out onto the street or cross between parked cars.
- Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags or bring a flashlight to make yourself visible to drivers.
Play an important role in urging your community
to drive safely and obey speed limits on roads – on Halloween night and beyond
– by participating in the City’s #SlowDownVaughan initiative. There are many
ways you can get involved:
- Place a #SlowDownVaughan sign on your lawn. Pick up a sign at Vaughan community centres (excluding Garnet A. Williams Community Centre while it remains temporarily closed for renovations) and the three Vaughan Public Libraries Resource Libraries – Bathurst Clark, Civic Centre and Pierre Berton. Signs are produced by the City and are free to Vaughan residents.
- Download (PDF) and print a #SlowDownVaughan sign to hang in your window.
- Post about this initiative on your social media platforms using the hashtag #SlowDownVaughan (supporting graphics are available on the City’s website).
Committing to #SlowDownVaughan and adjusting your driving habits may save a life. To learn more about this city-wide campaign, visit vaughan.ca/SlowDownVaughan.
#SlowDownVaughan is just one of several initiatives underway related to road safety. The City’s MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy sets the direction and priorities for the next five years while ensuring an efficient, reliable, safe and sustainable transportation system. MoveSmart was guided by input received from the public, which identified road safety and effective traffic management as top priorities to help meet the existing and evolving needs of the community. The strategy consists of four programs, one of them being the Road Safety Program, created to increase road safety and raise public awareness.
The City of Vaughan is committed to delivering Service Excellence, as outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. Implementing the #SlowDownVaughan initiative reinforces the City’s commitment to transportation and mobility, and active, safe and diverse communities.
Also part of MoveSmart is the Speed Limit Policy, a speed management tool to set and adjust appropriate speed limits throughout the City’s street network. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/SpeedPolicy.
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