Information launch: Journey with warning as Halloween trick-or-treaters and wet climate add security dangers to metropolis streets

(Oct. 30, 2025) With trick-or-treaters anticipated on streets Friday evening, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) urges everybody touring — whether or not strolling, biking, rolling, taking transit, or driving — to make use of further care to assist hold Portlanders of all ages protected this Halloween. This reminder comes after three lethal crashes in East Portland’s Hazelwood and Gateway neighborhoods up to now 24 hours.

Trick-or-treaters should journey and get residence safely

As days develop shorter, it is tougher for individuals driving to see others on the road. Lack of lighting or darkish circumstances is a prime contributing issue to site visitors deaths. Last yr, 83% of Portland’s site visitors deaths occurred in darker circumstances (from nightfall to daybreak). Slowing down, staying alert, and in search of individuals strolling, biking, and rolling may help everybody have a enjoyable and protected Halloween.

PBOT encourages children of all ages to mild up their Halloween costumes to verify they’re seen to all street customers. Get inventive and add glow sticks, blinky accessories, or reflective tape to your costume to face out and keep protected.  

Reflective clothes = 10x improved visibility

Both individuals driving and pedestrians typically overestimate how seen persons are at evening. Pedestrians sporting reflective clothes are seen to individuals driving as much as 500 toes away. Compare that to simply 55 toes away when pedestrians put on darkish colours and no reflective gear or lights. That added security profit helps individuals strolling, biking, and rolling hold themselves and different street customers protected.

When strolling, biking, or rolling in darkish circumstances, use further warning when crossing the road – assume individuals driving could not see you. Drivers’ capability to see is restricted by darkish circumstances, rain, glare, and blind spots constructed into automobiles. In a pinch, attempt utilizing your cellphone as a flashlight to make your self extra seen.

Block events assist make trick-or-treating protected on the road

PBOT has issued 35 block celebration permits for Friday, October 31.  Block events are a free, enjoyable, and straightforward option to construct neighborhood. This Halloween, PBOT block celebration permits will assist car-free trick-or-treating and festive gatherings that convey neighbors collectively and make our streets safer.

PBOT is equipping Portland’s youth with pedestrian security abilities

PBOT’s Safe Routes to School program works with 5 Portland faculty districts to supply transportation security abilities and data free to educators. The pedestrian security training curriculum makes use of video games and motion in PE lessons to show pedestrian abilities and private security which are aligned with State of Oregon Department of Education PE Standards.

Safe Routes to School affords highschool college students transportation security training programming by the Transportation Academy. Participants can study quite a lot of abilities, together with pedestrian, bike, transit, and driving security.

This Halloween and past, Vision Zero is a citywide dedication — made potential by the collective work of PBOT, our associate bureaus, regional companions, and Portlanders who share the street with care. Together, we will make each road a protected place to stroll, roll, and trip.