Maryland State Highway Administration Loans Reflective Vests to Trick-or-Treaters

[Howard Hartman]

Maryland State Highway Administration Loans
Reflective Vests to Trick-or-Treaters – Vests for Visibility

(October 25, 2011) – What day is it when commuters will confront the powers of good and evil on their way home? Next Monday evening as commuters are driving from work, witches, warlocks, fairies and wizards will take to the streets in the annual Halloween trick-or-treat tradition. Unfortunately, the results could end in tragedy. As dusk falls earlier, both cars and pedestrians will be more difficult to spot on statewide roadways. “See and be seen” is the message from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA), which offers Vests for Visibility to those in costume and their chaperones.

You can get the vests in Montgomery Count at SHA's Fairland Maintenance Shop located at 12020 Plum Orchard Drive in Silver Spring.

SHA’s Vests for Visibility lends reflective safety vests to parents– free of charge. Combine the vest with a hard hat, a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and boots to make a new costume or place the reflective vests over children’s costumes. The vests will be available in most counties at many SHA Maintenance facilities each day Thursday, October 27, Friday, October 28 and Monday, October 31 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Reflective vests will be issued on a first come, first served basis and must be returned by Friday, November 4.

“There is no contest between a car and a child – even one wearing a power cape or waving a magic wand. Our mission this Halloween is to remind everyone – whether driving home from work, traveling to Halloween festivities or simply watching over trick-or-treaters to follow the rules of the road,” said Deputy Transportation Secretary and Acting SHA Administrator Darrell Mobley. “Unfortunately, on average about 100 pedestrians are killed every year in traffic crashes in Maryland. Even if you don’t take the opportunity to borrow one of the vests being offered, please have a conversation with your family about the importance of the ‘see and be seen message’ – lives depend on it.”

SHA offers more safety tips for motorists and trick-or-treaters to ensure everyone has a safe Halloween:

TIPS FOR MOTORISTS:

• Stop for pedestrians – Maryland law requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and intersections.
• Obey the speed limit. Speeding only makes it more difficult to stop unexpectedly.
• Motorists should be more cautious during peak trick-or-treating hours between 4 and 9 p.m.
• Enter and exit driveways slowly.
• Be alert for children darting across the street.
• Watch for children crossing between parked cars.
• When driving children to and from different activities, make sure all seat belts are fastened and let children out of the car on the curbside.
• Never drink and drive. Designate a sober driver.

TIPS FOR PEDESTRIANS:

• Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street.
• Cross at crosswalks or intersections.
• Be sure to see and be seen. Avoid dark clothing, wear bright colors and use reflective devices such as vests and blinking lights.
• Avoid costumes that may impair vision.
• Make eye contact with drivers when crossing the street.
• Stay alert and be on the lookout for cars traveling above the speed limit.
• On average, every day in Maryland, there are at least 258 crashes causing 130 injuries and at least one death. SHA encourages everyone to B-SAFE: Buckle up, Slow down, Always drive sober, Focus, and Everyone share the road. For more tips and information regarding driving, biking and pedestrian safety, please log onto www.choosesafetyforlife.com.