Everyone tends to enjoy the magic of Halloween, a day where everyone, regardless of age or background, can dress up as whoever or whatever for a single night.

But, traffic safety and costume safety are essential to make Halloween fun and safe for everyone. Here are some tips for keeping safe so that the scariest thing on the streets would be somebody in a clown mask.

Rebekah Ziesemer, who works with the Olympia Police Department, says one of the biggest dangers of Halloween is the visibility, and around this time it’s rather dangerous for pedestrians and drivers. Because of the spike of pedestrians walking on the road at night during Halloween, there has been that undeniable danger that you, whether a pedestrian or a driver,\might cause or get into a potential accident.

In order to prevent or try to avoid an accident while you are trick or treating, Ziesemer suggests, “Try to wear visible clothing so it’s easier for drivers to see you, such as LEDs, glowsticks, or reflective clothing.” She also recommends sticking in groups because visibility is undoubtedly one of the bigger reasons for pedestrians getting hit.

Of course, there will be Halloween parties occurring, especially among high school students. Ziesemer recommends high school students refrain from underage drinking and or drug use. If you or a friend uses drugs or alcohol, find an alternative form of transportation while under the influence to minimize accidents. If you spot a driver under the influence on the road, contact law enforcement. 

Wilson states that teens especially do tend to drive a bit faster than your average adult, so she also recommends teens follow traffic laws. “Drive the speed limit, stay alert and watch for trick-or-treaters. If you see kids, slow down and give them space. Young children are excited and distracted on Halloween and they are still learning to be safe pedestrians. Be aware that these kids can be unpredictable and might pop out from between parked cars or cross the street in an unsafe location.” insists Wilson.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.