Nashville, TN- As cheaters prepare for a night of spooky fun, AAA offers tips to keep everyone safe.
On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than any other day of the year, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.
“Since Halloween falls on a Monday, it’s likely that the festivities could start as early as the end of the week and continue throughout the weekend,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “We urge drivers to watch for pedestrians throughout the weekend, slow down in neighborhoods, and avoid distractions and impaired driving to keep everyone safe.”
AAA recommends the following tips for drivers this weekend:
- Stay seated and buckled. Everyone in the vehicle must remain seated and buckled up at all times, even when parked on the side of the road.
- Designate a browser. If you need to consult a map, take photos, or do anything that might distract you from the road, pull over or delegate those tasks to a passenger.
- If you’re driving, focus on driving. Even exceeding the speed limit by a few kilometers in a residential area greatly increases the dangers for cyclists and pedestrians who share the road.
- Keep an eye out for trick-or-treaters. Pedestrians can be very unpredictable, especially children. Be on the lookout for children’s shoes or costumes under vehicles to make sure they don’t cross the street between parked cars in neighborhoods.
AAA Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips
- To be visible. Light colored clothing or suits provide the best visibility for the motorist. If not available, try adding reflective material or tape to costumes to increase visibility. Giving your child a glow stick or flashlight to carry also increases their chances of seeing and being seen by drivers.
- Crossing the street responsibly. Cross using traffic lights and crosswalks. Look both ways before crossing the street and keep an eye on the road as you cross. Remind your child not to cross the street in the middle of a block or run between parked cars in neighborhoods.
- Don’t walk distracted. Save social media updates before or after your sleight of hand. Avoid checking your phone while walking or watching children.
- Stay on the sidewalks. If no sidewalk is available, always walk facing traffic and stay as far left of the road as possible.
- Remove bulky suits or winter coats before strapping your child into their car seat. Bulky or oversized clothing can cause the car seat harness to fit poorly, leaving room for movement in the seat, which can be very dangerous in the event of an accident.
About AAA – The Auto Club Group
Groupe Auto Club (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with over 13 million members in 14 US states, the province of Quebec and two US territories.
ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel deals and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 62 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve road safety.
For more information, get the AAA mobile appvisit AAA.comand follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Austin Peay State University continues its four-game homestand in Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. game against Eastern Kentucky.
The Govs picked up their first ASUN win in a 3-1 win over North Alabama last Sunday.
The Govs’ eight wins over EKU are the third against a single opponent in program history.
Seven governors — 
