News release: Travel with caution as Halloween trick-or-treaters and rainy weather add safety risks to city streets

News Article

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) urges everyone traveling - whether walking, biking, rolling, taking transit, or driving - to use extra care to help keep Portlanders of all ages safe this Halloween.

Oncoming traffic on SE 82nd Avenue near Crystal Springs before PBOT's recent street lighting investments made critical safety improvements. Last year, 83% of Portland's traffic deaths happened in darker conditions (from dusk to dawn). Photo by PBOT.

(Oct. 30, 2025) With trick-or-treaters expected on streets Friday night, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) urges everyone traveling - whether walking, biking, rolling, taking transit, or driving - to use extra care to help keep Portlanders of all ages safe this Halloween. This reminder comes after three deadly crashes in East Portland's Hazelwood and Gateway neighborhoods in the past 24 hours.

Trick-or-treaters deserve to travel and get home safely

Whether you're dressed up as a traffic safety cone or yourself, light up your costume this Halloween. Visibility is a top contributing factor to traffic deaths in Portland. Photo by PBOT.

As days grow shorter, it's harder for people driving to see others on the street. Lack of lighting or dark conditions is a top contributing factor to traffic deaths. Last year, 83% of Portland's traffic deaths happened in darker conditions (from dusk to dawn). Slowing down, staying alert, and looking for people walking, biking, and rolling can help everyone have a fun and safe Halloween.

PBOT encourages kids of all ages to light up their Halloween costumes to make sure they're visible to all road users. Get creative and add glow sticks, blinky accessories, or reflective tape to your costume to stand out and stay safe.

Reflective clothing = 10x improved visibility

Look out for trick-or-treaters traveling at night this Halloween. Last year, 83% of Portland's traffic deaths happened in darker conditions (from dusk to dawn).

Both people driving and pedestrians often overestimate how visible people are at night. Pedestrians wearing reflective clothing are visible to people driving up to 500 feet away. Compare that to just 55 feet away when pedestrians wear dark colors and no reflective gear or lights. That added safety benefit helps people walking, biking, and rolling keep themselves and other road users safe.

When walking, biking, or rolling in dark conditions, use extra caution when crossing the street - assume people driving may not see you. Drivers' ability to see is limited by dark conditions, rain, glare, and blind spots built into cars. In a pinch, try using your phone as a flashlight to make yourself more visible.

Block parties help make trick-or-treating safe on the street

PBOT has issued 35 block party permitsfor Friday, October 31. Block parties are a free, fun, and easy way to build community. This Halloween, PBOT block party permits will support car-free trick-or-treating and festive gatherings that bring neighbors together and make our streets safer.

PBOT is equipping Portland's youth with pedestrian safety skills

Students at Sunnyside Elementary School practice pedestrian safety skills on a mock street in their school's gym. PBOT's Safe Routes to School; pedestrian safety education curriculum uses games and movement in PE classes to teach pedestrian skills and personal safety that are aligned with State of Oregon Department of Education PE Standards. Photo by PBOT.

PBOT's Safe Routes to School program works with five Portland school districts to offer transportation safety skills and information free to educators. The pedestrian safety education curriculum uses games and movement in PE classes to teach pedestrian skills and personal safety that are aligned with State of Oregon Department of Education PE Standards.

Safe Routes to School offers high school students transportation safety education programming through the Transportation Academy. Participants can learn a variety of skills, including pedestrian, bike, transit, and driving safety.

This Halloween and beyond, Vision Zero is a citywide commitment - made possible through the collective work of PBOT, our partner bureaus, regional partners, and Portlanders who share the road with care. Together, we can make every street a safe place to walk, roll, and ride.