While fall brings autumn leaves… it also brings unique hazards, especially around Halloween when excitement runs high. For drivers, this holiday demands extra vigilance. Here are six essential driving safety tips to help you navigate the season safely and ensure a fun Halloween for everyone:
Go Slow in Neighborhoods: Significantly Reduce Speed
This is the most critical rule of the night. Residential streets become pedestrian highways on Halloween, some towns still hold trick-or-treat / Beggar’s Night on another night, and there are also plenty of other events (like Trunk-or-Treats) to stay extra vigilant this season. Excited children, often obscured by dark costumes (and focused on candy), can dart out from between cars, or run across lawns without looking. By significantly reducing your speed, you increase your reaction time and decreases the severity of any potential incident. A few extra seconds of travel time is worth a lifetime of safety.
Maximize Your Visibility: Always Turn Your Headlights On Early
Even if it feels like there’s still daylight, turn on your headlights before dusk. The low sun angle in the fall, combined with the dark colors of many costumes, makes pedestrians harder to spot. Automatic headlights may activate when it is too dark, it is crucial to manually switch your lights ON to ensure they are fully illuminated early. Ensure your windshields and mirrors are clean to prevent glare and maximize your clear sight-lines. The earlier you see them, the safer everyone is.
Eliminate Distractions: Commit to Hands-Free Traffic Laws
Distracted driving is dangerous year-round, but it’s catastrophic on Halloween. Put your phone completely away. A momentary glance down to check an notification can be the difference between seeing a small child, and missing them entirely. Focus 100% of your attention to the road, the sidewalks, and the edges of your vehicle.
Use Extreme Caution At Driveways, Intersections, & Crosswalks
These are high-risk zones. Trick-or-treaters often cross treats mid-block, or travel along the edge of driveways. Stop fully and look multiple times: left, right, and left again, before proceeding through an intersection or pulling out of a driveway. Be especially watchful when backing up. as small children are easily hidden in a vehicle’s blind spots.
Watch for Overlooked Obstacles: Lawn Decorations, Props, Darkly Dressed
It’s not just single children you need to worry about. Keep an eye out for large groups of pedestrians walking together, who might spill out into the street. Be aware of temporary obstacles such as oversized lawn decorations, props, or inflatables. These can unexpectedly block your view of a crossing child. Props or inflatables may also become dislodged with only mild wind or rain, requiring rapid swerving or breaking. Treat any loose decorations as a potential hazard until you’ve safely passed.
Expect the Unexpected: Assume Pedestrians Won’t Follow Typical Traffic Laws
On Halloween, you must operate defensively. Assume that children will ignore stop signs, and that older pedestrians / chaperones may be distracted or impaired. Their behavior will likely be random and unpredictable Maintaining this mindset will keep your guard high and ensure you are prepared for sudden, erratic movements.
By incorporating these six tips into your driving routine this fall (as well as year-round), you help ensure that Halloween and all the upcoming winter holidays remain fun and safe. Drive carefully!
-Brown Nationalease
