SCPD Halloween Safety Tips

SCPD wants all Trick or Treaters to have a safe and fun Halloween. Additional proactive patrols will be assigned throughout the weekend and on Halloween. Here are a few safety tips to help keep everyone safe.

Walk Safely

• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
• Look left, right and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross.
• Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, do not run, across the street.
• Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
• Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as 
• possible. 
• Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
• Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. 
• Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Trick or Treat With an Adult

Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe

• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
• Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Drive With Caution on Halloween

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods.
• Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
• Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.

Prime trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

Annually, Halloween draws large crowds to the downtown during the evening and late night. The department will utilize over 100 uniformed police officers from SCPD and neighboring agencies to minimize problems and reduce the opportunity for alcohol fueled problems and inappropriate behavior throughout the night.
To encourage respectful behavior, the Santa Cruz Police Department has enacted a Safety Enhancement Zone designation in the Downtown corridor for Halloween 2016. The Safety Enhancement Zone begins at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday October 29th and runs through 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday November 1st.

Halloween Safety Enhancement Zone and Road Closures information on SCPD Blog http://santacruzpolice.blogspot.com/2016/10/2016-halloween-safety-enhancement-zone.html
or click here https://goo.gl/zGD6FG

Please drive safe and smart through our city streets, and beware of little Trick-Or-Treater’s out and about. Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!