As families prepare for a night of fun this Halloween, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is reminding all road users to do their part to keep children safe.

Through its 2026 Halloween Pedestrian Safety Promotion, MPI is providing over 83,000 wearable flashing safety lights to Kindergarten through Grade 6 students at more than 360 schools across Manitoba. The round reflective safety flasher lights can be easily attached to costumes to help children be more visible to motorists while trick-or-treating and can be used throughout the year.

“While Halloween is an exciting night for children, it also brings increased risks as more pedestrians are out on our roads after dark,” said Maria Campos, Vice President & Chief Customer and Product Officer for MPI. “By helping children be more visible and encouraging families to practise safe behaviours, we can all play a part in making sure Halloween remains a fun and safe experience for everyone.”

As part of the program, the Crown corporation has also provided schools with a Halloween road safety video and classroom lesson plans to help students recognize unsafe pedestrian behaviours and learn how to stay safe near roadways. Parents and guardians are also receiving important road safety reminders to reinforce these lessons at home.

Pedestrian collisions highlight the need for extra caution

According to MPI data, more than half (55 per cent) of Manitoba’s fatal pedestrian collisions over the past five years happened between August and November, highlighting the need for everyone to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe.

MPI encourages all road users to follow these important safety tips:

For trick-or-treaters and their families:

  • Look in all directions for traffic before crossing the street
  • Never cross between parked cars
  • Use corners and crosswalks whenever possible
  • Always walk – never run – across the street
  • Wait for vehicles to come to a complete stop and make eye contact with drivers before crossing at traffic lights and stop signs
  • Wear bright or reflective clothing and use wearable safety lights to help motorists see you
  • Be cautious of masks that may obstruct vision and dark costumes that may be difficult for drivers to see
  • Consider walking with children or having them travel in groups
  • Remember that vehicles cannot stop quickly in wet or icy conditions

For motorists:

  • Slow down, especially in residential neighbourhoods where children may be trick-or-treating
  • Stay alert and watch for children who may suddenly enter the roadway or emerge from between parked vehicles
  • Don’t assume children can see your vehicle or will wait for you to pass
  • Be prepared to stop at a moment’s notice
  • Stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks
  • Never pass a vehicle that has slowed down or stopped for pedestrians at a crosswalk