10 Tips for Drivers for a Safe Halloween

Drivers need to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe from harm. Dayton Children's, FedEx and Safe Kids Greater Dayton reminds motorists to be extra careful this Halloween and recommends that drivers:

1. Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods.
2. Drive more slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road.
3. Be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances.
4. Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
5. Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle.
6. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
7. Remember that children are excited on this night and may move in unpredictable ways.
8. Remember that popular trick-or-treat hours are during the typical rush-hour period; between 5:30-9:30pm.
9. Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and pedestrians.
10. Triple check all blind spots because kids will most likely not be paying good attention to you.

Visit Dayton Children's or Safe Kids USA for more Halloween safety tips!

Buyer Beware: Used Car Seats

There is no question that families are facing tough times and are looking for ways to save money.  One way to save is to purchase used car seats. The last thing a parent wants to do is buy a car seat to keep a child safe in a car only to find out that the car seat itself wouldn’t protect the child properly.

If you are purchasing a second-hand car seat make sure to check these items to make sure that your child will be riding as safely as possible.

1. Ask whether or not the car seat was in a crash. If you are purchasing the car seat from a second-hand store or if the seat is being given to you by a family member or friend - ask and make sure that the seat was not in a crash.  If the seat was in a crash it's best not to purchase or accept the seat.
2. Check the expiration date. The manufacture date is printed on the label of each seat.  Car seats generally expire 6 years after their manufacture date unless otherwise noted by the manufacturer. Recently, manufacturers have been stamping the expiration date or year on the seat as well to avoid confusion.
3. Check the seat for recalls.  Occasionally, car seats are recalled by the manufacturer.  Sometimes the manufacturer can send you a part to fix the recall - in other cases the seat is not suitable for use. Seats that have been recalled are not safe to use unless noted by the manufacturer. Also, remember to register the seat with the manufacturer so that you can be notified of any future recalls.
4. Review the manual and check for missing parts. Make sure the seat you purchase has it's original manual, or look online to find one.  It's important to have the manual to assist you in installation and to know if there are any parts missing.
   

For more information about car seat safety visit our website.