Road safety top of mind as trick-or-treaters take to the streets this Halloween

TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2015 /CNW/ - With children getting ready to go door-to-door this Halloween, Parachute and FedEx Express Canada are urging everyone to take extra care on the roads so trick-or-treaters, and their families, stay safe on this ghoulish night.

Child pedestrian incidents are a leading cause of death for Canadian children under age 10. In a typical year, 25 children are killed and over 2,100 are seriously injured. Most incidents happen after 3 p.m., when drivers are coming home from work and children are walking home from school or after-school activities.

For 14 years, Parachute and FedEx Express Canada have been delivering Walk This Way, a national awareness campaign to remind parents and drivers about road safety and to ensure children can walk safely on Halloween, and every day, in their neighbourhoods. Walk This Way asks drivers to exercise caution, slow down, and drive the speed limit in residential areas. Parents are urged to act as role models for their children and demonstrate safe pedestrian practices. 

"We all play a role in keeping our children safe while they walk in their communities," said Lisa Lisson, president of FedEx Express Canada. "At FedEx Express Canada we put safety above all, both in the workplace and in the communities in which we operate. Our drivers know the importance of being extra alert around school and pedestrian crossings, since these are the most important stops they make each day."

"With it getting darker earlier outside, Halloween is a great time to remind drivers to stay aware on the roads and for parents and children to talk about pedestrian safety," says Louise Logan, Parachute's President and CEO. "Parachute encourages families to trick-or-treat together, while modeling safe pedestrian practices to be visible and enjoy this fun-filled tradition."

Through the Walk This Way program, Parachute and FedEx offer parents, children and drivers these tips for a safe Halloween:

• An adult or responsible older child should accompany younger children since they may lack the skills to cross the street on their own.
• Teach your child to stop at the curb, look left, right and left again, and to listen for oncoming traffic.
• Select costumes with bright colours to increase your child's visibility and choose face paint instead of masks.
• Always cross at crosswalks, street corners or intersections.
• Stay on the sidewalk when walking from house to house, and if there is no sidewalk, walk beside the road, facing traffic so drivers can see you.
• Drive slowly in residential areas where children are more likely to be trick-or-treating.
• Watch out for kids, many of whom will be wearing costumes that limit their vision.
• Eliminate distractions, such as cellphones or loud music, and stay alert.

Parachute is generously funded by FedEx Corp. to provide the Walk This Way pedestrian safety program year-round, providing education, resources and support for parents and community groups to increase the safety of their streets.

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $48 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 325,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.

About Parachute

Parachute is a national charity helping Canadians stop the clock on preventable injuries. The injury impact is staggering. Preventable injuries are the #1 killer of children. They cost the Canadian economy $27B a year, and worst of all, one child dies every nine hours. Through education, knowledge and empowerment, Parachute is working to save lives and create an injury-free Canada. For information, visit us at parachutecanada.org, follow us on Twitter, or join us on Facebook.

SOURCE Parachute

Lorraine Doherty, Parachute, 647-776-5128, [email protected]