Safe2Drive Blog

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!

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

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.

Here in the Cleveland suburbs, the deer are abundant and unafraid. They will walk right up to you, and they cross the street whenever they please. One night last winter, I had to park on the street because deer were congregating in my driveway, blocking the garage. You learn to become vigilant and always assume there are deer around, and hopefully, you drive accordingly.

For those who aren’t surrounded by deer constantly, it can be quite startling to see one in the middle of the road, especially at night. Knowing what to do when a deer runs into the road can help you react quickly without making the situation more dangerous. Your first instinct might be to swerve, but that’s not always the safest response. In most situations, the safest approach is to brake firmly, keep control of your vehicle, and stay in your lane.

What should you do when a deer runs into the road?

When a deer suddenly enters your path, take your foot off the accelerator and brake firmly while keeping both hands on the steering wheel. Try to slow your vehicle as quickly as possible while maintaining control.

If you have enough time and space to stop safely, go ahead and do so. If you can’t avoid the deer completely, continue braking and keep your vehicle pointed in the direction you were already traveling. It can be tempting to jerk the steering wheel to avoid the deer, but doing so puts you in danger of running off the road or into other traffic.

Why shouldn’t you swerve to avoid a deer?

Swerving may take you out of the path of the deer, but it can also put you directly in the path of another hazard. On a two-lane road, for example, swerving left could put you into oncoming traffic. Swerving right could send your vehicle onto a shoulder, into a ditch, or into a tree.

A deer collision can cause serious damage, but losing control of your vehicle can create additional risks for you and other road users. Unless you can safely move around the deer without leaving your lane or losing control, your best option is generally to brake and stay in your lane, even if that means hitting the deer.

Don’t assume there’s only one deer.

If you see one deer, stay alert. Deer often travel in groups, so another deer is likely closely behind the first one. Once the first deer has crossed the road, don’t immediately speed back up. Keep your eyes on both sides of the roadway and be prepared to stop again. The second deer may appear only a few seconds after the first.

When are deer most likely to be on the road?

Deer can be active at any time, but there are definitely times when they’re more active. Drivers should be especially alert around dawn and dusk, when deer are often more active and visibility can be reduced.

Pay extra attention when driving through wooded areas or along roads bordered by fields, brush, or other places where deer may be nearby. Deer-crossing signs are also a good reminder to slow down and scan the roadway and shoulders.

Fall can be another particularly important time to watch for deer. During the breeding season, deer may move around more than usual, increasing the chance that they’ll cross roadways.

What should you do if you hit a deer?

Sometimes, even the most defensive driver can’t avoid a deer. If a collision happens, focus first on getting yourself and your passengers to a safe location. If your vehicle is still drivable, move it off the roadway when you can do so safely. Turn on your hazard lights to alert approaching drivers. If anyone is injured, call 911 for emergency assistance.

You should also contact the appropriate law enforcement agency and follow your state’s requirements for reporting a collision with an animal. Your insurance company may also need to be notified, especially if your vehicle has significant damage.

Don’t approach the deer, even if it appears to be dead or unable to move. An injured animal can be frightened and unpredictable. Instead, let law enforcement or the appropriate animal or wildlife authorities handle the situation.

How can you reduce your risk of a deer collision?

You can’t control when a deer decides to cross the road, but you can give yourself more time to react.

Slow down when you’re driving through areas where deer are common, especially around dawn and dusk. Pay attention to deer-crossing signs and scan the shoulders and edges of the road as you’re driving. If you see a deer near the roadway, reduce your speed and be prepared for it to move into your path.

A deer can appear in the roadway with very little warning. Knowing ahead of time that you should brake, maintain control, and avoid a dangerous swerve can make it easier to respond calmly when you actually need to do it.

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

Here in the Cleveland suburbs, the deer are abundant and unafraid. They will walk right up to you, and they cross the street whenever they please. One night last winter, I had to park on the street because deer were congregating in my driveway, blocking the garage. You learn to become vigilant and always assume there are deer around, and hopefully, you drive accordingly.

Getting a driver's license is a pretty big milestone for a teenager. After spending months learning the rules of the road and practicing with a parent or other supervising driver, they can finally get behind the wheel on their own.

For parents, though, this can be a big adjustment, too. You aren't sitting beside your teen anymore, reminding them to check their mirrors or telling them where to turn. They're making those decisions for themselves.

The first few months are a good time to establish some family rules for new teen drivers. State law already sets certain restrictions for young drivers, but families can have additional rules that make sense for their own situation. Talking about those expectations ahead of time can make it easier for your teen to know what to do when they're faced with a situation they didn't expect.

Here are five rules worth discussing before your teen starts driving independently.

1. Put the phone away while driving.

There shouldn't be any question about whether your teen can use their phone while driving. Texting, checking notifications, scrolling through social media, changing music, or responding to a message can all take their attention away from the road.

Have your teen put their phone somewhere they can't easily reach it before they start driving. If they use their phone for navigation, the route should be set before they leave. If they need to make a call, send a message, or change their navigation, they should pull over somewhere safe first. It can also help to establish this rule for everyone in the family. Teen drivers are more likely to take a rule seriously when they're seeing the adults around them follow it, too.

2. Everyone wears a seat belt.

Your teen needs to wear their seat belt every time they drive, even if they're only going a short distance. The same applies to every passenger they have in the vehicle. Getting into the habit of checking that everyone is buckled before pulling out of the driveway is a simple routine that can stick with them as they gain more driving experience.

This can be especially important when your teen starts driving friends around. They may feel awkward telling a friend to buckle up, so it's worth talking about that expectation before it happens.

3. Set clear expectations about nighttime driving.

Nighttime driving can be more difficult for a new driver. There is less visibility, headlights from other vehicles can create glare, and it can be harder to judge distances and recognize hazards in the dark.

Your teen's license may already have restrictions on nighttime driving, depending on your state. Make sure they know exactly what those restrictions are and when they apply. Your family can also establish its own rules. You might decide that your teen needs to be home by a certain time during the first few months or limit nighttime driving to specific situations. As your teen gets more experience, you can revisit those rules and decide whether they're still necessary.

4. Be careful about teen passengers.

Friends can be one of the biggest distractions for a new driver. A passenger may start a conversation, play loud music, show the driver something on their phone, or simply make the driver feel pressure to pay attention to what's happening inside the vehicle.

Many states have passenger restrictions for newly licensed teens, so make sure your teen understands the rules that apply to their license. You can also set a stricter family rule if you think that's appropriate.

For example, you might decide that your teen can only have one friend in the vehicle at first, even if state law allows more passengers. Fewer passengers can mean fewer distractions while your teen is still getting used to driving independently. Keep in mind, too, that siblings can be a big distraction as well.

5. Make a plan before your teen leaves.

A new driver may be comfortable driving familiar roads but feel less confident when they're suddenly somewhere they don't know. That's why it's helpful to have your teen think about where they're going before they pull out of the driveway.

If they're going somewhere unfamiliar, have them check the route ahead of time. They should know where they're going, have their navigation ready if they need it, and give themselves enough time to get there without rushing.

It's also worth talking about what should happen if the plan changes. Imagine your teen goes to an evening school event and plans to drive straight home afterward. While they're there, a friend tells them their ride fell through and asks your teen for a ride home. Your teen may know that you don't usually want them driving friends around at night, but they're standing there with a friend who needs help and may not know what you're going to say.

Talk about situations like this before they happen. Your family might have a rule that your teen needs to contact you before changing their plans, especially if the change involves another passenger, a different destination, or driving later than expected.

Family rules can be stricter than state law.

Your teen still has to follow all of the restrictions that come with their license. Those rules vary by state and can include limits on nighttime driving, passengers, and other conditions for new drivers.

However, state law doesn't have to be the only set of rules your family follows. You might decide that your teen needs to follow an earlier nighttime curfew than the law requires. You might limit the number of passengers they can carry or require them to check in when they arrive somewhere.

These kinds of family rules give parents and teens a chance to decide what they're comfortable with based on the teen's experience and the types of driving they'll be doing. As your teen gets more practice and becomes more comfortable handling different situations, you can adjust the rules.

Talk about the rules before something goes wrong.

Your teen is going to run into situations they haven't experienced before. They might get lost, encounter bad weather, have a friend ask for a ride, or realize they're going to be late getting home.

Those situations are much easier to handle when your teen already knows what you expect. Talk about the rules before your teen starts driving alone, and make sure they know when they should contact you. Most importantly, make sure they know they can call you if they don't feel comfortable handling a situation on their own.

For example, if your teen is driving home and the weather suddenly gets bad, they shouldn't feel like they have to keep driving just because they told you they'd be home at a certain time. They should be able to pull over, call and talk through their options.

The first 90 days give your teen a lot of opportunities to learn how to make decisions without a parent sitting beside them. Clear family rules can give them some direction while they're building that experience, and talking about those rules ahead of time can help prevent confusion when an unexpected situation comes up.

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

Getting a driver's license is a pretty big milestone for a teenager. After spending months learning the rules of the road and practicing with a parent or other supervising driver, they can finally get behind the wheel on their own.

I recently had to honk at a kid on an e-bike while I was making a left turn. He rode right out in front of me without seeming to notice that I was turning. Thankfully, I had enough time to react, but it got me thinking about how many kids are riding e-bikes around traffic without really understanding how to ride safely around vehicles.

E-bikes can be a lot of fun, and they can give kids more freedom to get around their neighborhoods and visit friends. But they’re also capable of traveling much faster than a traditional bicycle. Once a child is riding alongside vehicles, crossing intersections, and sharing the road with traffic, knowing how to balance and pedal isn’t enough.

Before buying your child an e-bike, it’s worth thinking about whether they’re actually ready to ride one around traffic.

An e-bike isn’t just a faster bicycle.

One of the biggest things parents need to consider is speed. An e-bike can make it easy for a young rider to travel much faster than they would on a regular bicycle. That extra speed changes how quickly a rider approaches an intersection, how much time they have to react to a vehicle, and how much time a driver has to see and respond to them.

A child who is comfortable riding a bicycle around the neighborhood might not yet have the judgment or experience needed to handle an e-bike around moving vehicles.

Your child needs to know the rules of the road.

If your child is going to ride an e-bike on streets where they’re interacting with traffic, they need to understand that traffic laws apply to them, too.

That means knowing what traffic signs and signals mean, riding in the appropriate direction, yielding when required, and understanding how to safely cross intersections. They also need to understand that having the right-of-way doesn’t mean they should stop paying attention to what drivers around them are doing.

This is especially important at intersections. A driver may be preparing to make a turn while an e-bike rider is approaching from the other direction. If the rider isn’t paying close enough attention, they may suddenly end up directly in the vehicle’s path. If the driver isn’t ready to stop on a dime, the rider is in big trouble.

Riding in the middle of the street creates a problem.

I’ve seen kids riding e-bikes in the middle of the street, sometimes without seeming to pay much attention to the vehicles around them. A rider who is occupying the travel lane needs to understand how their position affects traffic. They also need to be aware of what’s happening behind them and know how to respond when vehicles approach.

For a young rider, that can be a lot to manage at once. They’re supposed to be watching for cars, looking for signs and signals, deciding where to ride, and trying to control a bike that may be traveling at a fairly high speed. Parents should think about whether their child can handle all of that before allowing them to ride independently in traffic.

Paying attention matters just as much as wearing a helmet.

Helmets are important, but putting one on doesn’t make an otherwise unsafe ride safe. A child can be wearing a helmet and still ride through a stop sign, look down at their phone, cross in front of a turning vehicle, or fail to notice a car approaching.

Kids riding e-bikes need to keep their attention on what’s happening around them. That means no phone use while riding and no headphones or other distractions that make it harder to hear or notice traffic. They also need to understand that drivers may not see them right away, particularly when they’re coming from behind a parked vehicle, entering from a driveway, or approaching an intersection from an unexpected direction. They can’t assume a car will stop for them.

Don’t assume your child will make the same decisions you would.

You may know that your child is a good bike rider. They may follow directions at home and know what a stop sign means. But riding independently around traffic requires a different kind of judgment.

Before giving your child permission to ride an e-bike on their own, pay attention to how they handle situations that require them to make decisions. Do they look for traffic before entering an intersection? Do they stop when they’re supposed to? Do they notice what’s happening around them, or do they get distracted easily?

If your child tends to act first and think later, an e-bike may give them more speed and independence than they’re ready to handle.

Practice with them before sending them out alone.

If you decide your child is ready for an e-bike, don’t make the first ride an independent one. Ride with them and practice the situations they’re likely to encounter. Go over stop signs, traffic signals, turns, parked cars, driveways, and intersections. Practice having them look for approaching vehicles and make sure they understand when they need to stop and yield.

Watch how your child actually rides when you’re not constantly telling them what to do. That’s going to give you a much better idea of whether they’re ready to handle the responsibility on their own.

An e-bike can be a great responsibility, too.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to give your child more independence. An e-bike can be a convenient way for them to get around, spend time outside, and visit friends. But parents should consider more than whether their child knows how to ride one safely. An e-bike gives a young rider more speed and freedom. Make sure they’re ready for the responsibility that comes with both.

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

I recently had to honk at a kid on an e-bike while I was making a left turn. He rode right out in front of me without seeming to notice that I was turning. Thankfully, I had enough time to react, but it got me thinking about how many kids are riding e-bikes around traffic without really understanding how to ride safely around vehicles.