Last modified: Monday, October 30, 2006 9:50 AM PST LARRY MEYER | ARGUS OBSERVER Regan Hartley, 8, a third-grader at Nyssa Elementary School, throws darts at the recent school carnival. Transportation and law enforcement officials encourage children to be safe while wearing their costumes and masks and trick-or-treating. Officials urge caution on Halloween Larry Meyer | Argus Observer ONTARIO Every year as Halloween nears, children, parents and retail stores prepare for the holiday celebration with costumes and candy. Police and highway officials and other transportation agencies, however, have another focus for the event: to promote safety, whether people are trick-or-treating or driving Tuesday night. The Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon State Police issued a joint statement warning motorists to pay special attention Tuesday when the costumed children are out in force after dark. “With the end of Daylight Savings Time, darkness comes earlier, and clouds and rain further darken road visibility,” Sue Riehl, ODOT Safety Division youth program coordinator, said. “So it's important for both adults and children to be particularly careful this weekend and on Halloween.” The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon State Police offered these simple tips for a safer Halloween: - Slow vehicles down in residential neighborhoods, particularly in those areas where there are no sidewalks and children are walking on or near the shoulder of the road. - Watch for children walking in or near the street or on medians or curbs, and from beyond parked cars or obstacles. - Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and cautiously. Have child passengers enter and exit cars on the curb side, away from traffic. - Children should be dressed in bright costumes, or put reflective tape stickers on dark costumes. - Face paint or cosmetics on a child's face is safer than loose-fitting masks that can obstruct a child's vision. - Children should carry flashlights or glow sticks. - Secure masks and hats so they do not slip. - Remind children to cross streets only at intersections, stop and watch for cars before crossing streets and do not let children younger than 12 trick-or-treat without supervision. Union Pacific also issued a caution to motorists and pedestrians on Halloween if their routes take them near or over railroad tracks. “It's important to remind children about the dangers of trains and trespassing on private property,” Bob Grimaila, Union Pacific senior assistance vice president of safety, said. “Adults should tell them to travel only on designated walkways and to never take shortcuts or play on or near railroad tracks.”