It’s spooky season! The costumes are out, the candy is ready, and neighborhoods are about to be filled with little ghosts, superheroes, witches, and all kinds of other characters making their way from house to house.
For drivers, Halloween can make an ordinary trip through the neighborhood a little more complicated. Kids may be crossing the street, walking between parked cars, or suddenly stepping out of a driveway. Some costumes can be difficult to see once the sun goes down, and drivers may be distracted while looking for an address or following their GPS.
So, what’s the best way to stay safe behind the wheel on Halloween? Slow down, stay focused, and expect the unexpected.
Slow down in residential areas.
Halloween is one of those nights when you should expect to see more pedestrians than usual, especially in residential neighborhoods. Even if you normally drive through the area without seeing anyone on the road, that can change quickly on Halloween night.
Slow down and give yourself plenty of time to react if a child suddenly enters the street. Kids may not always stop to look for vehicles before crossing, and they may run into the road to catch up with friends or get to the next house.
Don’t wait until a child is directly in front of your vehicle to slow down. If you see children near the road, reduce your speed and be prepared for them to move into your path.
Don’t assume you can see everyone.
Dark costumes, parked cars, trees, and other objects can make pedestrians difficult to see. This is especially true around dusk, when there may be enough daylight to see the road but not enough to clearly see someone wearing a dark costume.
Pay attention to what’s happening around the entire roadway, not just directly in front of your vehicle. Children can come out from between parked cars, walk along the edge of the street, or step into the road from a driveway.
If something is blocking your view, slow down. Giving yourself more time to react is especially important when you can’t see what’s on the other side of a parked vehicle or other obstruction.
Be careful when backing out.
Driveways can get busy on Halloween. Children may be walking from one house to another, and they may not realize that a vehicle is preparing to back out.
Before backing out of a driveway or parking space, check the area around your vehicle carefully. Use your mirrors and backup camera, but don’t depend on the camera alone. Take your time and make sure the area is clear before you start moving. Remember that children are much smaller than adults and can be difficult to see from the driver’s seat. A child walking behind your vehicle could be hidden from view until it’s too late to stop.
Put the phone down and pay attention.
Halloween can create plenty of distractions inside the vehicle, too. Maybe you’re following GPS directions to a Halloween party, trying to find a particular house number, talking with passengers, or dealing with excited kids in the back seat.
If you need to enter an address into your navigation system, do it before you start driving or pull over somewhere safe. If you’re having trouble finding a house, don’t stare at the numbers on the houses while you’re moving. Slow down or pull over safely so you can figure out where you’re going. Your attention needs to stay on the road, especially when you’re driving through a neighborhood full of pedestrians.
Expect kids to do unexpected things.
Children don’t always think about traffic the same way adults do. On Halloween, they may be excited, distracted, or focused on getting to the next house.
A child may see a friend across the street and run toward them. Another may step into the road to get to a driveway. A group of kids may stop in the street to talk or decide to cross at a spot where you aren’t expecting pedestrians. These days, half of them are probably riding electric bikes or scooters, causing them to zip by at fast speeds.
You can’t predict exactly what a child will do, so give yourself plenty of time to react. If you’re approaching a group of children, slow down and be prepared to stop.
Give yourself a little extra time.
Halloween changes the normal routine of a residential street. There may be more people walking around, more vehicles parked along the road, and more activity happening near driveways and intersections.
Give yourself extra time to get where you’re going. Slow down, stay focused, and be prepared for a child to enter the road when you least expect it. Stay safe this Halloween, and remember to keep an extra eye out for all those little ghosts and goblins on the road!
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