Halloween is fast approaching and with it comes another Friday night of football games, cheering crowds and high traffic.

Safety is always high on everyone’s list because of the amount of people involved both on the field and on the roads.

This Friday, though, we need to be even more cautious than normal and not just for ourselves, but for our children.

That’s why the Selma City Council voted unanimously to limit trick-or-treating from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. this Friday night.

According to Councilwoman Jean Martin, several council members have received calls recently. People have expressed their concern about the traffic expected on Friday when children will be traveling door-to-door dressed as ghosts and goblins.

Council President George Evans shared those concerns and a quick debate on the best trick-or-treating times came to a unanimous decision shortly afterward.

We hope so, too.

Halloween is a long-standing American tradition and should remain just as safe now as it did when we were children.

Times may change, but there’s no reason why for one night out of the year we can’t ensure our children have the time of their lives and live to tell their children about it.

But it takes more than a vote of our City Council to do that. It takes us as a community working together for the safety of all children.

When children knock on your door Friday night, make sure a parent is waiting nearby.

As it gets closer to 7:30 p.m., remind the children that it’s getting close to quitting time. And when time is up, we suggest placing a simple sign across your front door: &uot;Out of candy.&uot;

It’ll let both children and adults know that trick-or-treating time is over.

There’s a time for getting candy, and it’s between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday night. This way all of us can have a fun and memorable holiday.

Have a safe Halloween.