MEDIA RELEASE

Children of all ages look forward to Halloween but police want to keep them safe to enjoy the fun. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly four times as many children ages 5-14, are killed while walking on Halloween evening than other times of the year.

Hawaiʻi County police will increase DUI checkpoints and roving patrols this week in conjunction with Halloween. The effort is part of a national and statewide campaign called “Drive sober or get pulled over.”

Sergeant Robert P. Pauole, head of the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Traffic Services Section, pointed out that drugs, alcohol or both have been factors in at least 66 percent of the 35 traffic fatalities we’ve experienced so far this year. He urges all motorists to be extra cautious in the next few days, when a large number of pedestrians may be out for Halloween festivities.

“Be especially careful in residential areas by slowing down and looking for children on roadways, medians and curbs,” Pauole said. “If you plan to drink, please don’t drive. Make arrangements to ride with a designated, sober and licensed driver before you start drinking. If you can’t find one, don’t take a chance—take a taxi.”

Police offer the following additional tips for Halloween safety:

Motorists:

• Drive below the posted speed limit during trick-or-treating hours.
• Watch for keiki darting out from between parked cars.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.

Parents:

• Accompany your keiki when they go trick-or-treating or make sure they are supervised by a responsible adult.
• Have your keiki trick-or-treat in a safe location (consider a local mall or community event).
• Make sure keiki are supervised as they cross the street.
• Have keiki get out of cars on the curb side, not on the traffic side.
• Carry flashlights and use reflective tape or stickers on bags and costumes for keiki to see and be seen.
• Avoid masks or costumes that limit a keiki’s vision or movement.
• Check all treats before letting your keiki eat them.

The Police Department wishes everyone a fun and safe Halloween.