Arlington Urges Drivers and Families to Stay Safe This Halloween

Published on October 21, 2026

By the Office of Communication

As Halloween approaches, the City of Arlington is asking all residents to do their part to keep the community’s trick-or-treaters safe on Saturday, Oct. 31. With excited children taking to neighborhood streets at dusk, drivers are urged to exercise extra caution, slow down, and stay alert.

“Halloween should be a night of fun and community, but safety must come first,” said Ann Foss, planning and program manager with the City of Arlington’s Transportation Department. “We ask all drivers to slow down and pay close attention in Arlington’s residential neighborhoods where kids are trick-or-treating.”

Parents and trick-or-treaters can keep the night safe and fun by following a few simple street-safety tips:

• Be Visible: Trick-or-treaters should carry a flashlight, use glow sticks, or attach reflective strips to costumes and bags so drivers can easily spot them in the dark.
• Stay on the Sidewalk: Children should remain on sidewalks whenever possible while moving from house to house and stick to well-lit streets and neighborhoods.
• Cross at Corners: Only cross streets at intersections, corners, or marked crosswalks—places where drivers naturally expect pedestrians to be in the roadway.
• Watch for Parked Cars: Parents are reminded to ensure children do not dart out into the street between parked vehicles, which can easily block small children from a driver's line of sight.

The City of Arlington reminds all road users—drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike—to share the road with respect and caution. By working together, the community can ensure everyone enjoys a safe Halloween.

To learn more about how Arlington is working to improve road safety year-round, visit the City’s Safe Streets Arlington Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, adopted in December 2024 with the goal of achieving zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2050.