DETROIT, MI — With Halloween coming up on Tuesday, October 31, it’s important to remember that more kids will be walking and riding around as they celebrate with family and friends. It also means an increase in young trick-or-treaters potentially darting across roadways or wandering in front of alleys and driveways.

The Postal Service is asking moms, dads and school officials to remind children about taking extra precautions to avoid potential accidents around mailboxes and postal vehicles. 

“We’ve talked to our employees about working on Halloween, and the days leading up to it, including  safety concerns, especially when it comes to road and pedestrian safety,” said Derron Bray, Postmaster, Detroit, MI. “That’s why we are now asking everyone in the community to do the same, and help us all work together to keep the kids safe.”

The National Safety Council (NSC) reported that in 2015 about 6,700 pedestrian deaths and 160,000 medically consulted injuries occurred among pedestrians in motor vehicle incidents on Halloween.  NSC research revealed about 17 percent of these deaths occurred when pedestrians improperly crossed roads or intersections.  Lack of visibility because of low lighting or dark clothing accounted for about 15 percent of the deaths.  Other circumstances varied by age: Darting or running into the road accounted for about 15 percent of deaths in kids ages 5 to 9 and 7 percent for those 10 to 15.

Here are some safety tips kids and parents can use on Halloween while out trick-or-treating:

• Put any electronic devises down and keep your eyes open and be aware of the surroundings
• Avoid walking on roadways, medians and curbs
• Avoid entering and exiting alleys and parking lots
• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for cars, trucks and postal vehicles
• Stay out of Driveways

“Kids love the magic of Halloween, so let’s make that possible by actively practicing safety and being aware of our surroundings,” added Bray.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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