Dear Moreno Valley Residents,
Halloween and trick-or-treating here in MoVal are some of my fondest childhood memories. Our city has grown a lot since then, with many more trick-or-treaters these days and many more vehicles. And we’ve seen a rash of traffic accidents and fatalities recently, seemingly caused by high speeds, inattention, or a combination of the two.
As your Mayor, and simply as a concerned resident, I urge all my fellow residents to make public safety everyone’s highest priority this Halloween. Here are some common-sense reminders.
• Drive slower, and with headlights on! Remember, those littlest trick-or-treaters tend to get started early, around the time many residents are rushing home from work.
• Expect the unexpected, such as trick-or-treaters darting out into the street.
• Make sure the walkway up to your door is clearly visible and free of obstacles.
• Keep lighted jack-o’-lanterns a safe distance away from trick-or-treaters’ potentially flammable costumes.
• And parents, please have your children finish trick-or-treating at a reasonable time, by at least 9 p.m. or so. There’s school and work the next day, and people can get unnerved by a late-night knock on the door.
Common sense is really the most important part of public safety, on Halloween and all year long. Please use it to protect all our children. And let’s have a safe and spooky-fun time, everyone!