State Farm, an auto insurer, announced that it teamed up with researcher, Bert Sperling of Sperling's BestPlaces, to better understand the risk kids face as they take to the streets in search of treats.

According to a release, Sperling's BestPlaces analyzed more than four million records in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from 1990 2010 for children 0-18 years of age on October 31. That detailed analysis revealed the following:

- Halloween Was Deadliest Day of the Year for Child Pedestrian Accidents One hundred and fifteen child pedestrian fatalities occurred on Halloween over the 21 years of our analysis. That is an average of 5.5 fatalities each year on October 31, which is more than double the average number of 2.6 fatalities for other days.

-The "Deadliest Hour" Nearly one-fourth (26 out of 115) of accidents occurred from 6 7 p.m. Over 60 percent of the accidents occurred in the 4-hour period from 5 to 9 p.m.

-Middle of the Block Most Hazardous Over 70 percent of the accidents occurred away from an intersection or crosswalk.

-Ages Most at Risk on Halloween Most of the fatalities occurred with children ages 12-15 (32 percent of all child fatalities), followed by children ages 5-8 (23 percent).

-Drivers Who Posed the Greatest Risk Young drivers ages 15-25 accounted for nearly one-third of all fatal accidents involving child pedestrians on Halloween.

-Drivers Who Posed the Lowest Risk Drivers ages 36-40 and 61-65 were involved in the fewest child pedestrian fatalities on Halloween. Together, these age groups accounted for nine child pedestrian fatalities (8 percent) in the 21 years of the study.

-Fatalities Declining Each of the last six years of the study (2005 2010) has seen Halloween child fatalities below the 21 year average of 5.5.

"State Farm wants children to be safe every day of the year whether they are inside or outside of a car," says Kellie Clapper, assistant VP of Public Affairs at State Farm. "The analysis of this data highlights the particular need for parents to be especially alert during Halloween."

More Information:

st8.fm/safekid

st8.fm/Halloween

statefarm.ca

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