(October 22, 2012) –On Wednesday, October 31, as commuters are driving home from work, goblins, fairies and trolls will lurk out on the streets seeking tricks-or-treats. Door to door they’ll prance about filling their bags with treats; moving anxiously with excitement as they cross the streets. It’s that time of year, Halloween is here!
That means drivers everywhere should be on alert, drive slower than usual and expect the unexpected, because they could cross the path of a werewolf, ghost or goblin - and even these creatures are no match in a contest with a car.
Unfortunately, if the right precautions aren’t taken, tragedies can replace the holiday “trick or treats.” As dusk falls earlier, both cars and pedestrians become more difficult to spot on statewide roadways. “Be seen on Halloween” is the message from the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). SHA will once again lend reflective vests to those in costume and their chaperones as part of the the annual “Vests for Visibility” Program.
SHA’s Vests for Visibility lends reflective safety vests to parents to place over their children’s costumes– free of charge. The vests will be available at all 29 SHA Maintenance facilities each day Monday, October 29, Tuesday, October 30 and Wednesday, October 31 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Reflective vests will be issued on a first come, first served basis and need to be returned by Friday, November 9.
“There is no contest between a car and a child – even one wearing an “S” on his chest 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 SHA Administrator Melinda B Peters. “It is chilling to think that 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.”
Here are some tips to ensure everyone has a safe Halloween:
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 p.m. and
9 p.m.
• Enter and exit driveways slowly, and turn at intersections with caution.
• Be alert for children darting across the street and 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.
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.
Every 18 hours in Maryland, someone is killed in a traffic crash. 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.roads.maryland.gov.
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2012 Vests for Visibility Participating SHA Maintenance Shops
Allegany County
LaVale Shop
1221 West Braddock Road
LaVale, MD 21504
301-729-8433
Anne Arundel County
Glen Burnie Shop
910 Stewart Ave
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
410-766-3770
Annapolis Shop
138 Defense Highway
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-1009
Baltimore County
Hereford Shop
306 Mount Carmel Road
MD 137 & I-83
Parkton, MD 21120
410-329-6752
Owings Mills Shop
9130 Dolfield Road
Owings Mills, MD 21117
410-363-1315
Golden Ring Shop
8375 Pulaski Highway
Rosedale, MD 21237
410-574-4511
Calvert County
Prince Frederick Shop
MD 231 at MD 2/4
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-1748
Caroline County
Denton Shop
508 Caroline Street
Denton, MD 21629
410-479-0770
Carroll County
Westminster Shop
150 Wyndtryst Drive
Westminster, MD 21157
410-876-2061
Cecil County
Elkton Shop
2024 E. Old Philadelphia Road
Elkton, MD 21922
410-398-1565
Charles County
LaPlata Shop
Washington Ave
LaPlata, MD 20646
301-934-8031
Dorchester County
Cambridge Shop
750 Handley Road
Cambridge, MD 21701
410-228-4977
Frederick County
Frederick Shop
5111 Buckeystown Pike
Frederick, MD 21701
301-624-8251
Thurmont Shop
67 Moser Road
Thurmont, MD 21788
301-271-7787
Garrett County
Keyser’s Ridge Shop
3876 National Pike
Accident, MD 21520
301-895-3234
Harford County
Churchville Shop
3050 Churchville Road
Churchville, MD 21028
410-838-7788
Howard County
Dayton Shop
4401 MD 32
Dayton, MD 21036
410-531-5533
Kent County
Chestertown Shop
615 Morgnec Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
410-778-0818
Montgomery County
Fairland Shop
12020 Plumorchard Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20904
301-572-5166
Gaithersburg Shop
502 Quince Orchard Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20760
301-948-2477
Prince George’s County
Laurel Shop
Talbot Avenue & Second Avenue
Laurel, MD 20810
301-776-7619
Marlboro Shop
6500 S.E. Crain Highway
Upper Marlboro, MD 20870
301-952-0555
Queen Anne’s County
Centreville Shop
111 Safety Drive
Centreville, MD 21617
410-758-0700
Somerset County
Princess Anne Shop
10980 Market Lane
Princess Anne, MD 21853
410-651-1333
St. Mary’s County
Leonardtown Shop
27345 Point Lookout Road
Leonardtown, MD 20650
301-475-8035
Talbot County
Easton Shop
8265 Ocean Gateway
Easton, MD 21601-0745
410-822-3525
Washington County
Hagerstown Shop
18320 Col. Henry K. Douglas Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21713
301-791-4730
Wicomico County
Salisbury Shop
660 West Road
Salisbury, MD 21802
410-677-4050
Worcester County
Snow Hill Shop
5630 Market Street
Snow Hill, MD 21863
410-632-0511
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