Utah ranks number two in the nation as one of the safest states for trick-or-treaters on Halloween according to a new study, just behind Nebraska.
Utah has more kids per capita than most other states according to Morgan Bell, a communications specialist for yourlocalsecurity.com. She said with more kids to keep track of, Utah cities are still safer than most communities in the United States.
One of the ways Halloween safety is measured is the percentage of trick-or-treaters or the percentage of the population between the ages of five and 14. The other ways to measure safety on October 31 are pedestrian car deaths, violent crime and sex offenders.
“Provo, Utah overall had the highest percentage of trick-or-treaters and it was at 19.2 percent,” Bell said. “Then a low ratio of pedestrian fatalities, violent crime occurrences and sex offenders per capita.”
Bell said Logan and the Clearfield – Ogden area also made the top 10 list of safest metros areas in the country for trick-or-treaters, but parents and their children should still take precautions to avoid dangerous situations.
“Stick to familiar areas that are well-lit, be aware of your surroundings, always walk on sidewalks, look before crossing the street, don’t run across the street, use crosswalks, supervise your trick or treaters or have them go in a group,” Bell said.
People not trick-or-treating should slow down while driving in residential neighborhoods and Bell said avoiding distractions like cell phones can help keep families safe on Halloween.
