Halloween is under a few days away, but parents have much more to worry about than just the sugar high and costume blunders that Oct. 31 is known to bring.
According to Safe Kids, children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on the holiday than on any other day of the year. Plus, as the epidemic of distracted driving only gets more and more prevalent, parents should take extra precautions for their kids’ safety, like putting reflective tape on their costumes to ensure they can be seen by drivers, or stringing a flashlight around their necks.
In addition to the added danger of the holiday taking place on a weeknight, some cities are more accident-prone than others, requiring trick-or-treaters to be extra vigilant about their safety. Cambridge Mobile Telematics looked at data from nearly 900,000 drives on Halloween around the United States and found that Ocean City in Maryland, Park City, Memphis, Arlington and Miami are home to the most distracted drivers, while Portland in Oregon, Cape Cod, Jacksonville, the Hamptons and Ocean City, again, are home to the speediest drivers.
RELATED: Most haunted cities in America 20 PHOTOSMost haunted cities in AmericaSee GalleryMost haunted cities in America
20. Sacramento, California 
19. Madison, Wisconsin
18. San Jose, California
17. Boston, Massachusetts 
16. Charleston, South Carolina
15. Chicago, Illinois 
14. Portland, Oregon
13. Seattle, Washington
12. Honolulu, Hawaii
11. Reno, Nevada
10. Los Angeles, California 
9. Orlando, Florida
8. Memphis, Tennessee
7. San Francisco, California 
6. Austin, Texas
5. Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Santa Cruz, California
3. Fort Collins, Colorado
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
1. Savannah, GeorgiaUp Next
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“With Halloween taking place on a weeknight this year, parents and partygoers will be rushing home to get ready for festivities,” explained Ryan McMahon, VP of Insurance at Cambridge Mobile Telematics to AOL Lifestyle. “Our data found that nearly half of drivers, 39.1 percent, were speeding excessively through highways and residential neighborhoods. Additionally, there were a number of close calls, with 24.8 percent of drivers slamming on their brakes.”
The data also found that Seattle, Las Vegas, San Jose, Long Beach in California and Minneapolis were home to the fewest instances of distracted driving, making these cities some of the safest for trick-or-treaters.
“Drivers should be mindful of the risks, put away their phone and slow down on the roads, especially in residential neighborhoods where trick or treaters may be crossing the street,” McMahon explained. “Parents should supervise children under 12 and discuss safety best practices, such as keeping a flashlight handy, staying on sidewalks, and only trick-or-treating on agreed upon routes. And as for trick-or-treaters, they should start early to get the best candy and avoid accidents with drivers speeding off to their late-night Halloween festivities.”
For more Halloween safety tips, watch the video above.
30 PHOTOSA history of Halloween at the White HouseSee GalleryA history of Halloween at the White House
1963:US President John F Kennedy (1917 -1963) sits behind his desk,laughing as his children Caroline and John Jr (1960 -1999), show him their Halloween costumes in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC. They wear plastic hats and fright masks.(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Vice President Richard M. Nixon addresses a crowd at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, October 29, 1960, while campaigning for president against Sen. John F. Kennedy. Next to him stands 10-year-old Tom Lemke, wearing a Halloween ghost costume that reads “Jack Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance,” referring to John F. Kennedy. When Nixon spotted to boy in the crowd, he called attention to the youngster.(AP Photo)
(Original Caption) Mrs. Patricia Nixon, wife of the Vice President, frolics with their daughters, Patricia, 8, and Julia, 6 (right), as the girls prepare for Halloween fun. Mrs. Nixon made the costumes the girls are wearing.
Rosalynn Carter, center, watches as daughter Amy Carter gets her face painted at a Halloween party at the Poe Elementary School, Oct. 30, 1976, Houston, Tex. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo)
President JimmyCarter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter stand by as daughter Amy and some of her friends carve pumpkins during Amy’s 10th birthday partyWednesday, Oct. 19, 1977 in the White House in Washington. Amy is seated directly in front of the President. (AP Photo)
(Original Caption) President Reagan’s only comment 10/31 regarding the upcoming November 2nd elections was carved in a pumpkin, “Stay the Course.” The Reagans returned to the White House after a weekend at Camp David.
Barbara Bush (C) entertaining costumed children w. help of colorful crew of clowns, w. secret servicemen lurking, celebrating Halloween on WH grounds.(Photo by Diana Walker//The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images)
Pres. & Barbara Bush (C) officiating at WH Halloween fete flanked by Marilyn Quayle (L), daughter-in-law Margaret & granddaughter Marshall (R).(Photo by Diana Walker//The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images)
Barbara Bush (C) & Mrs VP Marilyn Quayle (L) amid colorful crew of clowns, celebrating Halloween on WH grounds.(Photo by Diana Walker//The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images)
Pres. & Barbara Bush amid colorful crew of costumed children & entertainers, celebrating Halloween on WH grounds.(Photo by Diana Walker//The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images)
Pres. & Barbara Bush (R) officiating at colorful outdoor WH Halloween fete w. Mrs VP Marilyn Quayle (L).(Photo by Diana Walker//The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images)
Mrs VP Marilyn Quayle (C) & Mrs Margaret Bush (R) amid colorful costumed crew, celebrating Halloween on WH grounds.(Photo by Diana Walker//The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images)
Beaming Pres. Bush (C) at GOP campaign event for Rep. Stan Parris (L), out on golf course w. Halloween-costumed & other kids.(Photo by Diana Walker//The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images)
US Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama walks around his neighbourhood with his daughter Sasha, 7, dressed up for Halloween, in Chicago ON October 31, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama distribute candies and cookies as they host a Halloween reception for military families and children of White House and Residence staff at the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet trick or treaters at the North Portico of the White House as they celebrate Halloween in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2009. The First couple welcomed more than 2,000 children from Washington, Maryland and Virginia schools and their families to celebrate Halloween. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet trick or treaters at theNorth Portico of the White House as they celebrate Halloween in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2009. The First couple welcomed more than 2,000 children from Washington, Maryland and Virginia schools and their families to celebrate Halloween. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 31:President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hand out Halloween treats to children on the North Portico of the White House on Octtober 31, 2010 in Washington DC. (Photo by Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 31:U.S. President Barack Obama hugs a trick or treater at the White House October 31, 2010 in Washington, DC.The Obama’s greeted children and military families at the North Portico to celebrate Halloween and to trick or treat across the North Lawn.(Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama offer treats to trick-or-treaters October 29, 2011 to celebrate Halloween on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 29:U.S. President Barack Obama waits with first lady Michelle Obama and her mother Marian Robinson to greet trick or treaters at the White House October 29, 2011 in Washington, DC.President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted military families and other trick or treaters for a Halloween party.(Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 31: U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama give out treats to children on the South Lawn of the White House, October 31, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed local children and children of military families to trick-or-treat for Halloween. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 31:U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama and her mother Marian Lois Robinson (L) give out treats to children on the South Lawn of the White House, October 31, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed local children and children of military families to trick-or-treat for Halloween.(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hand out treats to local children and children of military families as they trick-or-treat for Halloween on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, October 31, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB(Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama greets trick-or-treaters at the White House in Washington, DC on October 31, 2014. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed local children and children of military families to the White House for a Halloween party. AFP PHOTO/YURI GRIPAS(Photo credit should read YURI GRIPAS/AFP via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 31:U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hand out treats to children during a Halloween event at the White House October 31, 2014 in Washington, DC. President Obama and the first lady hosted local children and children of military families to trick-or-treat and celebrate Halloween.(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 31:U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hand out treats to children during a Halloween event at the White House October 31, 2014 in Washington, DC. President Obama and the first lady hosted local children and children of military families to trick-or-treat and celebrate Halloween.(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama laughs as he arrives to hand out treats to children trick-or-treating for Halloween on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, October 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB(Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet a young child dressed as the Pope and riding in a “Popemobile” as he hands out treats to children trick-or-treating for Halloween on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, October 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB(Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama dance along with children performing Michael Jackson’n Thriller in the East Room at the White House during a Halloween event in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2016. / AFP / NICHOLAS KAMM(Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)Up Next
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