It’s ironic, really, but a fact: Most of those stories we’ve heard about trick-or-treaters getting razor blades in candy bars and poisoned popcorn balls? Urban myths. Still, they’ve ruined Halloween. Parents no longer trust their neighbors enough to allow them to accept homemade candy treats that modern children can only dream of — divinity fudge, homemade chocolate bonbons, apple crisps and a candy made from mashed potatoes and peanut butter.

But we are heading into a weekend (locals all know it actually begins in Corvallis on Thursday night) when a combination of events is likely to make venturing forth an increased hazard for everyone:

• Halloween falls on Friday, which means a whole weekend for adults to enjoy the costume partying that has made this almost more of a holiday for adults than children.

• It’s Oregon State University’s homecoming weekend, and we expect a good many devoted Beaver fans to enjoy not only Saturday’s home game against Arizona State University but perhaps a few toasts before, after and maybe during the game, although Reser Stadium officials frown on that.

• Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, and that means “jumping back” for those who would like to enjoy another hour or so of drinking on Saturday night. Risky.

• The forecast calls for rain after a rather long period of dry weather, meaning that we can expect roads to be slick all weekend.

Now, we realize that we sound very much like your fussiest relative; the one who doesn’t venture outside if a cloud crosses the horizon and whose motto is “You can never be too careful.” But hear us out.

We’re the ones who daily compile the news of car crashes, assaults, drunken driving arrests and tragedies caused by the collision of Error and Bad Luck. We tend to play the “what if” game and experience teaches us to warn of danger ahead:

Children — being children — are going to start eating Halloween loot as soon as they get it Friday, running around in their costumes. Despite warnings to the contrary, they won’t look before they cross the street. Also, some of them will be out well past the time when most people have turned off their porch lights and put away the candy.

Oregon State Police have parked a very fancy 36-foot recreational vehicle at the corner of Fourth Street and Harrison Boulevard. It’s fully equipped to make the processing of drunken-driving arrests faster.

Don’t find out what that thing looks like inside. It will be there until after the exodus following Saturday’s football game. Designate a driver if you plan to drink. That simple act could save — at the very least — your money, job and good name.

Take care on the road. Not only are slick highways likely, but Sunday’s switch to Standard Time can be a shock to the system. But the switch also offers a good excuse to enjoy a pre-winter’s nap in the afternoon. Consider it a reward for testing your smoke alarm and installing a fresh battery.