Spooky Safety Tips for Driving During Halloween

With the chill in the air and the changing colors of leaves comes the excitement of Fall and the various festivities that come with it. Of course, everything culminates with Halloween, when kids and adults alike flood the streets to enjoy decorations and trick or treating.

Halloween presents some of the most dangerous road conditions of the year. Distracted children dressed in costumes (often dark) are running around, often neglecting their immediate surroundings and letting their guard down. Things can happen in a split second and drivers need to be extremely cautious during Halloween.

We list some of the steps all drivers can take to ensure they protect themselves and the people around them during Halloween.

Headlights

Headlights ensure that you can see clearly on dark and foggy evenings. They also ensure that you are seen by pedestrians as you move down the road. Headlights can often become dull or go out entirely. Headlight lenses can also become discolored or hazy after years of sun exposure, further diminishing brightness and, therefore, visibility.  If your headlight lenses look cloudy, give the shop a call to set up an appointment to “clear” your lights up.  

Speeding

Watching your rate of speed is incredibly important, particularly in areas of the community where there is trick or treating. Children are darting around, oblivious of their surroundings and disaster can strike at any moment. Drive below posted speed limits and be ready to stop at a moment’s notice.  

No Distracted Driving

A fraction of a second can mean the difference between keeping everyone safe and a catastrophic event. Driving distracted is the root cause of thousands of accidents and completely avoidable injuries and death. Driving is no time for using your phone, eating or anything else that pulls your attention away from the road. Drivers should also keep their music down. If you have a passenger, ask them to pay attention as well.

Communicate

The more information you can give to other drivers and pedestrians, the better. Ensure you use your hazard lights when necessary, blinkers to indicate where you’re going and your horn to warn others, if needed. Don’t leave anything to interpretation.

Stay Sober

Driving under the influence is dangerous and unlawful. There is no excuse for driving while under the influence. Countless lives are lost every year because of the reckless actions of those who think they can get home safe or that they are ‘not that drunk.’ Just don’t do it, especially on Halloween.  

Stay Home

If possible, simply stay off the streets on Halloween night. Or at the very least, avoid town centers and ‘hubs’ for trick or treating. Driving a couple extra minutes out of the way is worth it and can ensure your safety and the safety of those out and about. Plan ahead and give yourself extra time to get where you need to go. 

Halloween is a fun and exciting holiday, and we hope that our readers and customers safely enjoy all the festivities that abound this time of year. 

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