Editor’s note: AAA Southern New England member BJ Hill is walking across America. The Leicester, Mass., native will share first-person accounts from time to time in AAA Horizons until he arrives home in Boston in November.

  Text to come.

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  Editor’s note: AAA Southern New England member BJ Hill is walking across America. The Leicester, Mass., native will share first-person accounts from time to time in AAA Horizons until he arrives home in Boston in November.

  Whenever I meet someone new and tell him or her my mission to walk across America, I’m immediately barraged with a valley of questions.
  “Where did you start?” (San Francisco.) “How much does your pack weigh?” (About 25 pounds, with summer clothes.) “How many pairs of shoes have you worn?” (As I write this, I’m on my fifth pair.)
  But after these mundane enquiries, most folks want to get into the juicier stories.
“Are you ever afraid?” they ask. “Have you met any bad characters?” One middle school student even asked if I had ever been punched!
  For these questions, they lean in, hungrily wanting to hear how dangerous the world can be. And fortunately for me, but disappointingly for them, I have to let them down with a simple, “no.”
  Besides an overzealous and uncooperative deputy sheriff in a small town in Utah, I can say I’ve never been in a situation in which I’ve felt in harm’s way (knock on wood).
  If folks wanted better, more interesting stories, they instead should ask, “Have you met any nice people?” In that case, I could go on for hours about the kindness, generosity and love I’ve received as I’ve made my way across America.
  Take Greg from Ely, Nev., for example. Ely is on the far eastern side of the state, on lonely and desolate Highway 50. Like many folks eking out a living in this empty state, Greg worked long hours in the mines for half the week, then drove the whopping 320 miles to Reno for food shopping and R&R on the weekend.
  I trudged along the length of Highway 50 for quite a while, and on no particular schedule, about twice a week. I’d see Greg’s red SUV pull off the road ahead of me.
“You didn’t get very far,” he’d rib, as he rolled down the window and handed over some water and snacks.
  We’d talk for a few minutes about my route ahead, then he’d say goodbye and drive away. I might see him again in a few days or another week.
  Lyle and Linda of Rock Springs, Wyo., were a giant help as well. I had contacted their son, Terry, who was about my age, via an online travel site to ask if he knew of any inexpensive places to stay in Rock Springs. He wrote back the next day, explaining he himself was traveling (in southeast Asia), but had spoken with his parents who had offered to put me up. Talk about a huge help!
  Lyle is an ordained minister and knew parishioners all over the county. When I told him I planned to be near Superior, Wyo., by the end of the day, he immediately reached for the phone book, made a quick call, and by the time he hung up had arranged a family for me to stay with the next night. That family, in turn, knew some people who lived further down the road, and made another phone call on my behalf.
  This would be a theme all across Nebraska and Iowa. “Oh, you’re walking through Lone Pine/Stuart/Corning?” they’d mention while we were sitting and talking after dinner. “I have a friend/brother/granddaughter there. Let me call and see if they can put you up. Before I knew it, they were on the phone, telling my story and helping me out. Midwestern families run deep!
  The weekend I stayed with Marvin and Melodie in Pilger, Neb., Melodie felt up to hiking the 20 miles with me to the next town. About halfway into our walk, Marvin stopped by to check up on us and drop off some snacks. “By the way, BJ,” he said.   “We bought you a gift while we were in town today.” He reached into the backseat and produced a box – a brand-new pair of sneaks.
  “We got the size from your old pair while you were in the shower,” he said. “I hope they fit.” They fit like a glove.
  I have dozens of other stories about folks going out of their way to help out a stranger. People on the sidewalk who stopped to offer encouragement because they had seen my story on the news. Or drivers who pulled over just long enough to poke an icy bottle of water out the window. Or the older couple in Iowa who drove by me while I was walking, went home, prepared a sandwich, bag of chips and some fruit, and returned to give me their bag lunch (just in time; I was starving!).
  These are the stories I’d much rather tell. And when people lean in hungrily and ask me if I’m ever scared, I have to admit I am, but not for the reasons they would expect. I’m scared I may not have the opportunity to repay all the warmness and generosity and kindness that have been shown to me throughout America.

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  Editor’s note: AAA Southern New England member BJ Hill is walking across America. The Leicester, Mass., native will share first-person accounts from time to time in AAA Horizons until he arrives home in Boston in November.

(Written in a diner in Lenox, Iowa)
  Imagine you could write a letter that was all but guaranteed to get directly into the hands of our next president of the United States. What would you write about? How about an important issue for you and your family, like keeping Social Security or federalizing health care? Or a pressing need for your community, like funding schools or maintaining bridges? Or perhaps you’d offer an idea to make the world a better place, like a method for less intrusive oil drilling. Or maybe you’d share a piece of marital advice, or even a simple “good luck” before he takes on his new job.
  Since March 1, I have been walking across America, asking people I meet to share their thoughts for the next president. I let folks write their messages in a small, leather-bound journal I carry with me, and the hundreds of missives I’ve collected thus far (including California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska and Iowa) range from silly to serious, angry to hopeful, tear-jerking to inspiring.
  The most frequently discussed topic is the price of gas. This is an issue that affects everyone, be they conservative or liberal, red state or blue state.
  Even Americans who don’t own cars are feeling the pinch of higher prices for seemingly everything. One driver I met wrote, “President, you gotta do something about the fuel prices! It’s killing the economy and hurting ALL of us truckers.”
  A senior citizen from Austin, Nev., echoed his sentiments: “Good luck [and] please try to do something about our fuel prices. They are so out of control. People can’t do anything anymore.”
  The second most frequent issue is illegal immigration. Many Americans feel very strongly about this hot point.
  Other issues also are addressed. The Second Amendment is vigorously defended (“Dear Mr. President, Don’t touch our guns — we love them!”) People are split over the advantages of a free, federal health insurance, but all agree the insurance industry could be improved. “I am a 25-year-old Type I Diabetic. Nobody will give me insurance. Please do something to help those who can’t help themselves in this situation,” wrote a graphic designer from Orem, Utah.
  Some messages are more lighthearted. The owner of Mel’s Bar in Scribner, Neb., for example, invited the president over for a cold beer, on the house. A high school student in Salt Lake City asked if there really is a “Book of Secrets.” And one young man added this priceless piece of advice: “Cuddle with your wife every chance you get.”
  What’s most interesting about these messages, however, is not the differences from state to state, but the similarities. All Americans want what is best for their families and their communities. They love their country, and they hope America will always strive to be better. They still pray for their president, pray he makes the best choices.   Americans revere their Constitution, and though it errs frustratingly from time to time, they possess faith in their government.
  And no matter what state they’re from, no matter man or woman, black or white, rich or poor, old or young, Americans want honesty. They want opportunity. And they want a president who will listen to them and hear their voices.
  As this message, written with the help of a young mother in Emerson, Iowa, attests: “Dear President, A 2-year-old girl named Kaylee wants to give you a message…” The rest of the page is filled with random lines and scrawls, and at the bottom is written: “Translation: Make my future safe!”

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  Editor’s note: AAA Southern New England member BJ Hill is walking across America. The Leicester, Mass., native will share first-person accounts from time to time in AAA Horizons until he arrives home in Boston in November.

  The year is 1912, and you’ve just purchased your first automobile, a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. As the neighbors come out to gawk at your horseless carriage, one asks where your first trip will be.
  That’s a good question, because in 1912, there was no easy way to drive anywhere. Sure, there were the horse and the railroad, but any automobile owner quickly found the dirt roads to be impossibly impassable – and impossibly confusing once out of major cities. With the burgeoning automobile industry, the nation needed a uniform, smooth coast-to-coast highway system.
  Enter 38-year-old Carl Fisher, entrepreneur and manufacturer of automobile headlights. Mr. Fisher dreamed of a road that would stretch from coast to coast. It would be covered with cement (at the time 90 percent of the roads were still dirt), and where it had to, it would bypass major cities for the sake of directness. It would be named the (Abraham) Lincoln Highway, after one of his heroes.
  The task was daunting. After all, the transcontinental railroad took years to build. Mr. Fisher teamed up with fellow Yale alum Henry Joy, president of Packard Motor Car Company, and formed the Lincoln Highway Association. Through savvy marketing and publicity, automobile enthusiasts and industrialists flocked to the cause. The Army undertook a month-long, cross-country journey to reveal how unusable most roads were.
  Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt donated. But the most enthusiastic supporters were the towns and states that courted the association to run their tourist-filled road through their communities.
  With backers on board, Mr. Fisher and company undertook a well-publicized junket to explore potential routes. They were greeted with bands, parades, and donations. When the association reconvened, they announced their plan - the first coast-to-coast highway would depart Times Square in New York, pass through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California and end in San Francisco.
  However, public support for the project waned, particularly when disappointed communities realized they were left off the route. (Colorado, for example, was later cut out, causing Denverophiles to post unofficial “alternative route” signs in Wyoming.)
Despite the initial support the undertaking had achieved, Mr. Fisher and Mr. Joy still lacked sufficient financial resources. They turned to one of America’s wealthiest men, who would coincidently have the highest interest in a uniform road system — automobile tycoon Henry Ford.
  Surprisingly, Mr. Ford chose to pass on the project. Though it was expected to cost less than $10 million, he believed road construction belonged solely in the public sector. While the Lincoln Highway Association languished for funding, other interests began to take on similar but less ambitious projects. The Pontiac Trail was developed to connect Chicago with St. Louis, as was the Arrowhead Highway, which connected Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. Furthermore, in 1921, competitors commenced the Victory Highway, which would also run from New York to San Francisco.
  Mr. Fisher and Mr. Joy changed their tack. Using the money they had, they paved “seed roads” in rural areas, and waited for cities themselves to connect them. It was a plan to keep the project’s momentum, but it was too late. By this time, the federal government was taking its highway system more seriously.
  In 1925 the American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials designated the now familiar number system, in which odd-numbered roads run north to south, and even-numbered roads run east to west. (The actual National Interstate System wouldn’t be established until 1956 under Dwight Eisenhower.)
  These numbers spelled the end of the colorfully named road networks. Some highway associations understood the need for a comprehensive system, and negotiated to keep their routes intact as much as possible. The Pontiac Trail became the beginning of Route 66, for example, and the Lincoln Highway became, for the most part, Highway 30.
  The Lincoln Highway Association, satisfied that their efforts to build a coast-to-coast road and a vibrant memorial to the beloved president would live on, held one last ceremonial occasion. On Sept. 1, 1928, at 1 p.m., 3,000 Boy Scouts planted Lincoln medallion mile markers along the route. The road switched hands from a group of entrepreneurial automobile fans to the federal and state governments.
  Mr. Joy died in 1936. Mr. Fisher, who had lost his fortune in the crash of 1929, died in 1938. At the time of his death, all but 42 miles of the original Lincoln Highway were paved.
  The original Lincoln Highway has been largely forgotten by the succeeding generations of motorists. Parts were swallowed to become I-80 in Wyoming. The Victory Highway became I-80 in Nevada, thus relegating the Lincoln (Highway 50) the moniker “America’s Loneliest Highway.”
  But known or unknown, the spirit of the Lincoln Highway lives on. Some of the Boy Scout posts are still standing, and “The Ideal Section” in Indiana is a paradigm for civil engineers, with optimal road width, concrete thickness, and pedestrian accessways.
  The Lincoln Highway became downtown and Main Street for many of the smaller communities through which it passed. The Lincoln Highway Association has been reborn and is still active, with chapters in many states. Picture and history books about the road are widely available.
  Nowadays, the Lincoln Highway offers a rich cross-country experience for modern motorists looking for a slice of Americana off the interstate.
  Most importantly, the Lincoln Highway paved the way for a transcontinental road system. And it showed how one man’s dream could unify a country — or get it out.

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  Editor’s note: AAA Southern New England member BJ Hill is walking across America. The Leicester, Mass., native will share first-person accounts from time to time in AAA Horizons until he arrives home in Boston in November.

  Coming from San Francisco, there are two direct routes across Nevada and back east. the first is Interstate 80, a chugging expressway sprouting off from Reno. The other is Highway 50, a two-lane road that allows the driver to take his or her time and explore the essence of Nevada.
  Nevada’s desert (or “high desert,” since it is over 5,000 feet) is mostly flat, but it’s punctuated with mountain ranges. The same forces that gave rise to California’s Sierra Nevadas caused a rippling effect eastward. The result is a dozen smaller ranges, stretching north to south and marching toward the Rockies.
  In between these ranges are flat basins, once filled with water, but now covered in a sea of sagebrush. This pattern continues from Carson City to Utah – a wide open, vast valley. Then, it’s a climb through a mountain pass and a scenic drop into another empty basin, with another jagged range far in the distance.
  At first this desert – with its scraggly juniper, rugged sagebrush and lack of water – was simply a territory to get through for settlers, stagecoachmen and Pony Express riders on their way to California, whch was booming with fertile valleys and precious minerals. Then, an attendant at an outpost called Austin kicked over a stone in a streambed while looking for a wayward mule and found silver instead.
  The geological forces that heated and pressured mountain ranges had also shot ore through the rocks. By the mid-1860s, the boom was on – and a nascent Highway 50 became a bustling corridor of mining activity.
Mining, however, is boom or bust, and after the veins were exhausted most of the towns that had sprung up over night watched their populations gradually drift elsewhere.
  For the intrepid adventurer willing to get off the highway and explore some less-than-perfect side roads, many of these ghost towns and abandoned mines are still standing – though old minds should NEVER be entered.
  Today, there are only three towns between Fallon, Nev., and Delta, Utah, some 400 miles east. They are Austin (pop. 340), Eureka (pop. 1,651) and Ely (pop 3,791). They all have gas stations, restaurants and motels, but only Ely is large enough for a proper supermarket.
  Outside these towns are wildlife viewing areas (watch for elk and antelope), fossil beds, ATV recreational areas, the aforementioned ghost towns, and for the amateur geologist, garnet collecting near Ely.
  Inside these historic towns is the restored Eureka Opera House, Ely’s Hotel Nevada (a stop-over for Hollywood stars on their way to Sun Valley, Idaho), and small saloons and casinos. And since there is only one road in or out, the towns really come alive in summertime.
  “It gets to be like a little family,” said Jenny Williams, owner of the Toiyabe Café in downtown Austin. “we see the same folks passing through, year after year.”

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BJ Hill photo by Greg Gideon In March, BJ Hill walked through the Sierra Nevadas.

  Editor’s note: AAA Southern New England member BJ Hill is walking across America. The Leicester, Mass., native will share first-person accounts from time to time in AAA Horizons until he arrives home in Boston in November.

  Everyone has a dream – be it to fly in space, play lead guitar, or own their own business.
Mine has always been to walk across America. While other kids in my class were reading books and biographies on Babe Ruth and Vince Lombardi, I was reading about Peter Jenkins, who wrote the famous “A Walk across America,” and Robert Sweetgall, who walked all 50 states in 365 days (and reported it in Worcester’s Evening Telegram).
  I loved the sense of adventure, carrying everything you needed (and nothing you didn’t), and not knowing which life-changing experiences lay just over the next hill.
  As I grew up, I tried my own shorter walks – across Mexico in 1996 and across my home state of Massachusetts in 2006. But as my 30th birthday came and went, and I saw my friends marry off one by one, I realized that if I ever wanted to make my dream a reality – if I ever wanted to go for “The Big One” – the time was now, while I was still single and carefree.
  Everyone walks for a reason – to find themselves, to break a record, to raise money or awareness for a cause. I decided my walk would have a different purpose. I’ve always been interested in politics, and I firmly believe there are still politicians who are willing to listen not to money, but to ordinary people. Therefore, while I walk, I carry a notebook with me, and ask the folks I meet along the way to jot down their own message to the next president.
  The idea is to hand this collection of comments, concerns and ideas directly to the president – not just to an aide or an intern – as a symbolic mandate and connection from the American people. This election will be one of the most important in our lives, and hopefully the willingness of a president to take some time and read these missives will be a mark of a leader who is willing to listen to the voice of the people.
  I had been preparing for the walk for the better part of a year, but the last month – moving out of my apartment in Boston, saying goodbyes, flying to San Francisco – was a blur of activity.
  Before I realized, it was March 1 and I was officially on the road! Fortunately, I was surrounded by a few friends from college as I took the first few steps from the Golden Gate Bridge.
  I circled the Bay Area, walked through the Napa wine country and conquered the first challenge of my route – Highway 88 through the Sierra Nevadas. The three-day climb from Jackson wasn’t easy, but just seeing Kit Carson Pass (elevation 8,500 feet) on foot – not in a car – was a sight that made it all worthwhile.
  I packed a tent with me, but through various contacts, I had lined up places to stay for the first week along the walk and knowing I was going to have a warm bed at the end of the day was a huge relief.
  As I write this from Carson City, I am looking forward to my next challenge – one month on Nevada’s Highway 50 – “America’s Loneliest Highway.” While the mountains were a physical challenge, this stretch through the scrubland is going to be a psychological one.
  But as I’ve learned before, great challenges often bring great rewards.
Where is BJ Hill now? Click here for an up-to-date map of his walking route.


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  Now is the time to start getting your car ready for those rough New England winters. Fortunately, October is AAA Car Care Month, and to celebrate, AAA is offering members savings on preventive maintenance.
  During October and November, AAA members can make an appointment with a participating Approved Automotive Repair facility and present a coupon found in October’s Horizons to receive $5 off the price of an oil change.
  In addition, an automotive technician will perform a courtesy maintenance check of your vehicle. (Please note this offer does not cover the cost of adding or replacing fluids or parts, and the inspection does not replace the vehicle’s inspection as required by the state.)
  AAA’s Battery Service will offer free automotive battery tests to members on Saturdays in October. Following is the schedule: As part of AAA Car Care Month, AAA Southern New England will offer free automotive battery tests for members on Saturdays during October.
  All battery tests will be held from 9 a.m.-Noon. The dates and locations are as follows:
October 4
• AAA Franklin, 260 Franklin Village Drive
• AAA Leominster, 20 Commercial Road
• AAA Newton, 281 Needham Street
• AAA Providence Headquarters, 110 Royal Little Drive
• AAA Rockland, 900 Hingham Street
October 11
• AAA Cumberland, 2000 Mendon Road
• AAA Framingham, 653 Worcester Road
• AAA Saugus, 214A Broadway
• AAA Warwick, 501 Centerville Road
• AAA Worcester, 25 Mountain Street East
October 18
• AAA Auburn, 711 Southbridge Street
• AAA Franklin, 260 Franklin Village Drive
• AAA Greenville, Apple Valley Mall
• AAA Narragansett, 14 Woodruff Avenue
• AAA Newton, 281 Needham Street
• AAA Rockland, 900 Hingham Street
• Wrentham Village Premium Outlets
October 25
• AAA Cranston, 1035 Reservoir Avenue
• AAA Framingham, 653 Worcester Road
• AAA Plymouth, 29 Home Depot Drive
• AAA Saugus, 214A Broadway.

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  A car’s tires are critical for safety and expensive to replace, so there should be no question that you want to get as much life out of them as possible. The key to that is maintenance, says AAA Southern New England. The three issues involved in maintaining tires are pressure, rotation, and balance & alignment.
Tire Pressure
  One of the most overlooked maintenance items on today’s cars is tire pressure. Proper tire pressure improves tire life, handling and ride characteristics, and fuel economy. In most cases, you should check tire pressure at least once a month.
Checking tire pressure is easy. All you need is a tire gauge. Always check the tire pressure when tires are cold. The best time usually is first thing in the morning after the car has been sitting overnight. Even sunlight will affect tire pressure, so later in the day the pressure may be altered by the heat.
  To check the tire pressure, remove the cap from the tire stem and press the tire gauge against the end of the stem. You should hear the air escape from the tire momentarily as you press the gauge onto the stem and then it should seal. If the air continues hissing while you have the gauge applied, remove the gauge and try again. Once it seals properly, remove the gauge and check the reading, then put the valve cap back on. The reading should be equal to the factory recommendation that appears in your owner’s manual, or on the sticker on the doorjamb or glove compartment door.
  If the pressure is high, let a little air out of the tire and recheck the pressure. Repeat that process until the pressure is correct. If the pressure is low, add air to the tire. Chances are you won’t have compressed air available, so you’ll have to take the car to a gas station to get the air.
Tire Rotation
  How a tire wears depends on a number of conditions, not the least of those is which corner of the car they’re on. For example, tires in the front tend to wear more on the edges than the rear tires, because front tires turn when you turn the steering wheel.
  The right side may receive additional stress, because the right side of the car is more likely to make contact with potholes and curbs. Meanwhile, the left-side tires usually support more weight, because that’s the driver’s side.
  To prevent tires from wearing unevenly, AAA recommends that motorists plan on having their tires rotated at least twice a year. In general (except for tires with directional tread pattern), manufacturers recommend this pattern of rotation:
  Rear-Wheel Drive – The rear tires move directly to the front, while the front tires should be switched side to side and then moved to the back.
  Front-Wheel Drive – The front tires move directly to the back, while the rear tires should be switched side to side and then moved to the front.
  Four-Wheel Drive – Both front and rear tires should be switched side-to-side and then moved to the opposite side.
Don’t forget the spare tire
  The spare and the vehicle’s jack are often overlooked. The spare tire air pressure should be checked on a regular basis. If the spare tire is mounted under the vehicle, it should be periodically remove the mechanism the holds the spare tire in place lubricated. You don’t want to have a flat tire only to face a spare tire that you can’t free from its perch.
Wheel Alignment and Balancing
  Traditional wisdom says that you should have your wheels aligned and tires balanced at least twice a year to get the most out of your tires. That’s still true today. Aligning the wheels and balancing the tires regularly can increase your car’s tire life considerably.
  But here’s a little food for thought: 25 years ago a good set of radial tires cost $200-$300. An alignment and four-wheel balance cost $25 and $30 and, if performed regularly, could provide up to 40 percent more life out of the tires.
  Today, a set of radial tires still costs between $200-$400 and sometimes more. At the same time the cost of a wheel alignment and wheel balance has increased as well. Today the cost of a wheel alignment could range from $60-$100 or more. The cost of balancing four tires could be $60 or more. So an alignment and wheel balance could easily cost $120 or more. If purchased six times over the life of the tires the tire maintenance bill could easily cost more than twice the price of an average set of tires. So does it make sense to get your wheels aligned twice a year?
  At first glance this doesn’t seem like much of a pay-off for maintaining your tires. But there are other things to consider. Besides having a car that will handle properly and ride better, there are additional benefits. When your car is aligned properly tire wear will be minimized and fuel economy will be maximized. When a car is “out” of alignment the tires will scrub on the road rather than roll smoothly causing tire wear and increasing the rolling resistance of the tires, ultimately using more fuel.
  There is one more fact about tire wear. It is best to align the tires on your vehicle after steering components are replaced or after hitting a pothole or curb. The problem is that once a tire has established a wear pattern due to an alignment problem, realigning the car after the wear pattern has been established will improve handling but will not have much effect on the worn tires.
  Of course, it won’t hurt to have your vehicles aligned and tires balanced often but it may make sense to stay aware of your vehicle’s overall driving condition. If you notice a vibration have the tires inspected and if necessary re-balanced. If your vehicle pulls in one direction or the other have the alignment checked. And finally, if any component of the steering or suspension system was replaced or you just hit the mother of all potholes, make a special trip to the alignment shop.

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Halloween safety begins with the costume: Children should avoid masks, large hats and high-heeled or large shoes.

  Halloween is an exciting time of the year, filled with candy and costumes, ghosts and goblins. To keep your holiday from taking a scary turn, AAA Southern New England is educating drivers and pedestrians about trick-or-treating safety.
Safety begins when select-
i­ng a costume. Trick-or-treaters should wear bright outfits that fit comfortably. Use non-toxic face paint instead of masks or large hats, which can limit a child’s vision. Children should also wear safe, comfortable shoes. High heels, shoes that are too large, or shoes with wheels are all extremely unsafe, and could cause your child to trip. AAA Traffic Safety Education Specialist Diana Imondi Dias suggests children wear light-up sneakers.
  Light-up and reflective accessories are another important part of costume safety. If your child’s costume is dark, decorate it with retro-reflective tape, or buy them glow jewelry such as bracelets or necklaces. Children and chaperones should all carry flashlights.
  “Anything that makes children visible to traffic makes them safer,” says John Paul, AAA’s Car Doctor and Manager of Traffic Safety.
  There are several guidelines trick-or-treaters should follow on the big night. Pedestrians should always walk on the left side of the road, using sidewalks whenever possible. Never cross the street between parked cars; find the nearest corner or crosswalk and cross there.
  Adult supervision is important, especially for younger children. Ms. Imondi Dias suggests having one chaperone for every two children, so the adult can hold both little ones’ hands if necessary.
  Drivers must take extra pre­cautions on Halloween night, particularly during the peak trick-or-treating hours of 4 to 8 p.m. While it is easy to get distracted by decorations or costumes, be sure to focus on the road at all times, as children may not be paying attention. “Kids are looking for the next candy stop, not oncoming traffic,” said Mr. Paul. “As motorists, we can’t expect kids to take the normal care in observing traffic rules. Don’t expect them to necessarily behave as adults would behave.”
  Many people drive children to other neighborhoods for safer or better trick-or-treating experiences. This traffic often poses extra dangers as people from other communities may not be as familiar with the area. If you are driving children to another neighborhood, have them exit the car on the curb side, not the street side.
This year, Halloween is on a Friday. While this means children can sleep off their sugar-rush the next morning, it also requires additional safety concerns for drivers and pedestrians alike. “With Halloween being a Friday night this year, many adults will celebrate with parties, so be careful of drunk drivers,” warns Ms. Imondi Dias.
  Parents should review safety guidelines with their children before going out to trick-or-treat. With basic education and supervision, families can have a happy and healthy Halloween.

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