All sorts of ghosts, goblins, princesses and superheroes will be roaming the streets and roads in Senatobia and Tate County this Halloween, and parents need to be cautious of trick-or-treaters and mindful of safety aspects of the holiday.
Kids decked out in their favorite costumes will be traveling door-to-door Tuesday, Oct. 31, in search of candy and treats and motorists need to be extra cautious, especially on city streets.
“As always, our main goal is for everyone to be safe,” said Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler. “We will have extra officers on duty patrolling neighborhoods for speeders and dangerous drivers. People should realize this is a higher foot traffic time for children. The speed limit may be 30 on a city street but if there are several pedestrians and you’re going 35 and zooming in the middle, that’s not a good recipe.”
In such scenarios, offenders could be charged with reckless and careless driving offenses. Here are some other safety tips for drivers on Halloween:
• Be alert for trick-or-treaters. Slow down and continue to scan the road in areas where they are likely to be or where sight distances are limited.
• There will likely be more pedestrians on the roads and in places where they are not expected. Slower speeds save lives.
• Stay alert for pedestrians who may come out from between parked cars or behind shrubbery. Stop, wait for them to pass.
• Don’t look at your phone when you’re driving. Your attention needs to always be on the road.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact law enforcement.
Parents should never send children out trick-or-treating unchaperoned and should always check candy before it is consumed. Kids should carry a flashlight and wear high-visibility clothing.
When loading and unloading children, parents need to pay attention to traffic.
The city of Senatobia’s standard curfew time of 10 p.m. for those under the age of 18 will be strictly enforced, according to Chief Chandler. The city curfew, which is essentially in effect every day of the week and not just Halloween, allows those under 18 to be out until midnight if they are accompanied by a parent, working or involved in a school-related activity.
