9 Halloween Safety Tips For Parents (Plus 5 For Drivers)

How cute is the little girl in the photo above?!

Excited little kids are more focused on Halloween treats than safety, so it's up to us adults to keep them safe.

Here are nine Halloween safety tips to review, plus five more reminders for getting behind the wheel on Oct.31.

Safety Tips for Parents

1. A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.
2. Instruct your children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and avoid trick-or-treating alone.
3. If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you.
4. Agree on a specific time when children should return home.
5. Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
6. Children and adults should put electronic devices down, keep your heads up and walk, don't run, while crossing the street.
7. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
8. Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.
9. Remind your children to never enter a stranger's home.

Safety Tips for Drivers

1. Slow down and watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
2. Enter and exit driveways carefully.
3. At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing trick-or-treating.
4. Turn your headlights on for better visibility for yourself and pedestrians.
5. Popular trick-or-treating hours are between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. so be alert for kids during those hours.

-Image via Morguefile; Safety tips distributed by Pinole Police Department