Halloween Safety Tips for Drivers

Halloween happens to be a great holiday. It increases foot traffic at nighttime, though, and on that night, youngsters are abound everywhere. The chances of getting into an accident involving a young pedestrian increases by four times the amount in comparison to an average evening (source: CDC).

The roads are chock-full of kids dressed up as vampires, goblins, ghosts, and witches, among other costumed characters. Suffice it to say, drivers must operate their vehicles with extreme caution on Devil’s Night.

In several areas, parents drive children into suburban neighborhoods and allow them to trick-or-treat from one house to another. Parents generally follow them watching from their cars. But when they do so, traffic jams can ensue, as other parents have the same idea. This can create a lot of confusion, because kids eagerly hop from home to home a lot faster than the parents can move on the road. Drivers become distracted attempting to watch over their own children that they neglect everything else around them.

Both adults and children are generally preoccupied more than usual on Halloween, preventing them from maximizing their attention as needed. One of them might not be able to see your automobile, or they may mistakenly assume that you’ll stop for them automatically. You should be as defensive as possible if you’re going to drive around on Halloween. Consider the following suggestions:

• Refrain from using a mobile device when driving around on October 31^st. You shouldn’t do so on any day, but especially on Halloween. Accidents related to cell phone use has spiked over the last several years, as not everyone is following the rules. Many states have laws that prosecute drivers who operate a mobile device while behind the wheel.
• Be extra cautious, especially when you approach intersections, crosswalks, and roadsides. Kids sometimes walk along curbs, cutting through streets to reach other homes. When you’re driving, keep your head on a swivel. This should be done whether you are in traffic or watching your kids trick-or-treating from your car.
• Drive under the speed limit posted on residential roads while kids are out and about. Doing so will give you enough time to make any necessary breaks immediately after spotting a child crossing the road.
• Refrain from passing other cars stopped on roadways, because they might be dropping their children off. This happens a lot more in rural settings, but of course, it can transpire anywhere.
• Make sure your child understands to refrain from getting in strangers’ cars. Your kid might mistake somebody else’s vehicle for yours, especially with the mask on and the lack of sun out. Add something to your dashboard in order to make the automobile something your child recognizes.
• Be mindful that some people might be up to no good, like child predators. It is imperative that your child understands to never enter a stranger’s car for any reason. If an adult asks for directions or tries to give them candy, your child should instinctively scream and run as fast as possible.
• A glow stick, flashlight, or something with reflective tape should be carried around by your child so they are more visible to drivers. Children with flashlights should be told not to shine lights in drivers’ eyes. Doing so could blind them, and a dangerous accident can ensue.
• If you will be picking your children up or dropping them off in a certain area, pull up to a road safely. When doing so, your car’s lights need to be turned on so that other motorists are alerted to your presence. If you are following your kids by car when they go trick-or-treating, your hazard lights should be left on. That way, other drivers will be able to see your vehicle when it is parked.