Watch for Trick-or-Treaters Tonight

Happy Halloween! Tonight, trick-or-treaters will take to the streets of Vaughan on the hunt for chocolates and candies. Whether you’re joining your children around the neighbourhood or heading out to celebrate, be mindful that our streets will be busier than usual!

However you’re spending Halloween night, make sure to follow these tips so everyone can have a safe and fun evening:

For drivers:

• Obey the rules of the road, including posted speed limits, “No Stopping” and “No Parking” signs, and yield to those walking when you approach a pedestrian crossover.
• Pay attention to your surroundings. Watch for, stop and yield to pedestrians when approaching a pedestrian crossover. 
• Expect the unexpected. Children may cross the street without a crosswalk, forget to look both ways or ride a bike in front of a vehicle without warning.
• Enter and exit driveways and laneways with extra caution.
• 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.
• Leave nine metres (30 feet) between your car and crosswalks and/or stop signs when parking. Parking too close to these objects makes it difficult to see children crossing the road.

For cyclists and pedestrians:

• Put devices down, keep your head up and walk, don’t run, when crossing the street.
• Cross at designated crosswalks, crossovers or controlled intersections.
• Pay attention to vehicular traffic. Look left and right before crossing and keep looking as you cross.
• Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them and watch for moving vehicles in driveways and lanes.
• Obey all traffic rules and signals. When riding your bike – keep to the right, use proper hand signals, obey traffic lights and stop signs, and let pedestrians know you’re approaching them by using a bell or horn. 
• Ensure everyone in your group is visible to drivers by wearing reflective clothing or carrying something bright, especially during low light or dark conditions. 
• Be mindful of slippery conditions on sidewalks and roadways.
• Avoid riding bikes through puddles. Potholes and other road conditions can be hidden underneath. 

Road safety is an ongoing priority for the City of Vaughan. Through the MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy (MoveSmart), the City continues to work toward ensuring safer streets for our most vulnerable road users through initiatives such as the Active School Travel program,  the Safer School Zones Plan and the School Crossing Guard program, among others.

Let’s all work together to keep Vaughan’s roads safe for everyone. To learn more about these initiatives, visit vaughan.ca/MoveSmart.

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