Costumes? Check!
Trick or Treat Bags? Check!
Pumpkin Carved? Check!
Halloween Safety Discussion? Uh-oh.
Sometimes we get so caught up in all the spooky Halloween fun that we neglect to talk about Halloween driving safety. And it is a really important discussion to have with both drivers and families who will be out on Halloween night.
Did you know that Halloween is one of the deadliest nights of the year for children? According to the National Safety Council, “Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.” If you don’t think that is true, consider the fact that “in 2017, 7,450 pedestrians died in traffic or non-traffic incidents” on Halloween.
Now, that really is the scary thing about Halloween! By educating yourself as a driver and educating families and kids who will be on the roads on October 31st, you will significantly lessen your chances of being involved in a dangerous Halloween traffic incident.
Halloween Safety Tips for Drivers
Don’t drink and drive. We hate that we even have to include this tip, but it is necessary since “52% of motor vehicle deaths on Halloween involve alcohol.” If you plan to go to a Halloween party and enjoy some spirited drinks, then make sure your carpool has a designated driver.
Watch for kids everywhere. On Halloween, drivers should pretend the usual rules about where pedestrians are supposed to walk have disappeared. Kids will walk where they are not supposed to, so watch for them everywhere – roads, intersections, medians, and curbs.
Enter and exit alleys and driveways carefully. Make good use of your mirrors and backup cameras on Halloween as kids will be darting in and out of places where you may have a blind spot.
Discourage teen drivers from driving. If your teen is a new driver, it is a wise choice to let a more mature driver hit the road on this busy night.
Use headlights. The lack of visibility at nighttime is associated with deaths on Halloween, so make sure you use your headlights when driving.
Eliminate distractions. Absolutely do not text and drive on Halloween! It is too dangerous! Additionally, you should consider eliminating other distractions, such as loud music.
Drive slower than usual. On Halloween, we suggest you not only obey the neighborhood speed limits but that you also drive slower than the speed limit.
Don’t pass parked cars on the street. If you see a car parked on the street, do not pass without checking your surroundings. Many parents drive their kids around to trick or treat, so the children could hop out or run back to the car.
Halloween Traffic Safety for Parents
Use reflective tape, glow sticks, and flashlights. Help your child avoid a traffic-related accident by dressing them in something that will stand out. If kids don’t want to “mess up” their costumes, put reflective tape on it or put several glow stick bracelets on their wrists. And make them carry flashlights.
Don’t let kids go alone. Until they are old enough to be trusted to trick or treat in well-lit areas, know how to call home in case of an emergency, stay alert at all times, and know how to get home, you need to accompany them.
Have kids use sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible. While it seems all the rules are thrown out the window on Halloween, make your kids stick to the sidewalks and crosswalks like they would on a normal day.
Stick to well-lit areas. Avoid trick or treating in areas with low visibility as it will make it more difficult for drivers to see children.
Stay alert. As you trick or treat, stay alert. Keep your head up and your eyes off of your phone.
Carpool, so there are fewer cars on the road. If you know another family going trick or treating by car, use GoKid to invite them to carpool with you. This will make it more fun for everyone and lead to fewer cars crowding the neighborhood streets.
We wish you a safe and Happy Halloween!
