Driving Home Halloween Safety

The trick of surviving Halloween is to treat every shadow and movement as an unsuspecting child on the move. Before that, suggests a safety bulletin from the Greater Los Angeles Motor Car Dealers Assn., drivers on All Hallows Eve should check headlights to make sure they can see and be seen, and brakes in case the seeing becomes last-second.

In addition:

* If escorting children, drivers should not take on the Halloween mood by wearing masks. Even the Lone Ranger complained of reduced peripheral vision.

* Use high beams when driving residential areas where small witches and miniature pirates may be wandering.

* Reduce speed, increase your normal distance for scanning the road ahead and double the usual glances to each side of the car.

For parents:

* Give each child a flashlight to carry, not just those dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

* Avoid dark costumes. Even small ghosts in white should wear patches of reflective material.

* Before crossing any street, make sure all charges are present and accounted for so no child is running to catch up.

“One more piece of advice for adults,” notes a GLAMCDA spokesman. “Wait until you get home before rummaging through their candy.”