Halloween After Dark: Legacy Health Urges Families to Make Safety Part of the Fun – Especially This Year
October 21, 2026
Saturday night celebrations and the growing trend of e-scooters and e-bikes while trick-or-treating make visibility more important than ever.
Costumes are ready, candy buckets are waiting, and little ghosts and goblins will soon fill neighborhood streets. But before families head out for Halloween fun, Legacy Health experts have simple reminders to make it a happy Halloween.
It’s a sobering statistic: Children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year. ¹ And with Halloween falling on a Saturday in 2026, families may be out later, attending more festivities and sharing the streets with more pedestrians and riders. Add the trend of e-bikes and e-scooters to the mix, and the potential for preventable injuries only goes up.
“When Halloween lands on a Saturday, if often means more children out during the evening hours, and more drivers on the road,” said Amber Kroeker, MPH, CPST, child injury prevention program supervisor at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. “This year, we are especially concerned about the additional trend of e-scooters and e-bikes being incorporated into costumes. We want families to enjoy every minute of Halloween, but a few simple precautions can make a real difference in keeping children safe.”
Kroeker recommends these practical steps to help keep Halloween fun — not frightening.
- Reconsider e-bikes and e-scooters. Wheels and costumes can be a risky combination, particularly when children ride after dark. Young riders may be difficult for drivers to see, while children darting between parked cars or crossing streets can be hard to anticipate. Families should consider leaving e-bikes and e-scooters at home while trick-or-treating. Children who ride should wear helmets, follow traffic rules and remain visible to drivers.
- Make every street crossing count. Children should stop at the curb, look left, right and left again, and wait until vehicles have come to a complete stop before crossing. They should make eye contact with drivers when possible but never assume a driver has seen them. Children should use sidewalks and marked crosswalks whenever available and walk rather than run between destinations.
- Costumes should shine after sunset. Dark costumes are difficult for drivers to see. Families should add reflective tape, glow sticks or battery-powered lights to costumes and candy bags. They should choose face paint instead of masks that may block vision and ensure that costumes, capes and oversized shoes do not cause trips or falls.
- Track children's location. For older children trick-or-treating without an adult, families should agree on a route, set a firm return time and establish regular check-ins. A phone or smartwatch with location-sharing features can help families stay connected, but technology should supplement - not replace - a clear safety plan. Younger children should stay with responsible adults.
- Have a plan if separated. Before leaving home, families should choose a familiar meeting place, ensure children know how to contact a trusted adult and review what to do if they lose sight of their group. Emergency contact numbers can go in trick or treat bags or can be written on a child’s arm.
Drivers and Adults: Expect the unexpected
Drivers should slow down in residential neighborhoods – even under the posted speed limit. Put phones and distractions away and especially watch for children between parked vehicles and in crosswalks. Take extra care when backing up, turning and entering or leaving driveways and never assume a child will stop, before walking into the road.
“Adults can help by anticipating the risks, setting clear expectations, and making visibility a priority. We want the night to end with happy memories, full candy bags, and everyone safely back home,” said Kroeker.
Halloween Safety Bags
Halloween can be one of the most dangerous nights for child pedestrians. Help keep kids visible and safe with a $5 Halloween Safety Bag, featuring glow-in-the-dark items, safety resources, candy, and more! Order ahead to reserve your bag. Pick-up and payment on October 28th or October 30th at Randall Children’s Hospital.
