Halloween is a time for fantasy and sheer fun. But it also has a sobering side. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than any other time of year.

Rather than worry, Safe Kids recommends taking these preventative steps to protect your kids:

Focus on visibility: To make your children stand out in the dark so that drivers can see them, dress them in light colors, decorate their costumes with reflective tape and stickers, or give them glow sticks and flashlights to carry.

Don’t let them wear masks: Masks can make it hard for children to see clearly. Instead, decorate their faces with non-toxic face paint and makeup.

Make sure the costume fits well. If it’s too large, your child can easily trip and fall over the excess material.

Drive carefully yourself: Be alert for kids, particularly between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 pm., the most popular time for kids to trick-or-treat.

Photo by Haley Phelps on Unsplash