EAST LANSING, Mich. — The East Lansing Police Department reminds motorists to be extra cautious tonight as children take to neighborhood streets for trick-or-treating.
The trick-or-treating period in the City of East Lansing is from 6-8 p.m. With sunset expected to occur at 6:32 p.m., much of this window will be spent in darkness. Parents and guardians are encouraged to add reflective gear to their trick-or-treaters’ costumes or use flashlights to increase visibility and asked to remind children to use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing streets.
Motorists are reminded to reduce their speed, particularly in residential neighborhoods and areas without sidewalks and be aware of blind spots. Motorists are always expected to drive sober.
Data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over a 40-year period shows that the risk of fatalities is higher for pedestrians, especially children ages 4-8, on Halloween. For additional tips to keep safe, visit the NHTSA website: https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety.
Additionally, community members are reminded that daylight saving time ends this weekend (Sunday, Nov. 5) and the darker, shorter days tend to be more dangerous for pedestrians, runners and cyclists than at any other time of year.