Halloween is always a festive day for both children and adults. Costumes, candy, trick-or-treaters; there’s plenty to enjoy when this “spooky” day arrives every October.
With so much celebration and kids on foot on Halloween, especially after dark, it’s important to be extra careful when you get behind the wheel.
Below are 5 Halloween driving safety tips to help you make sure Halloween is safe for you, your passengers, and the trick-or-treaters roaming the streets.
1. Don’t drive with a mask.
Masks can be a fun part of any costume. If you are dressing up and your costume requires a mask, make sure to keep it off until you arrive at your destination. Masks can obscure vision and cause unnecessary risk to you and others!
2. Use caution in neighborhoods
While you never want to speed through a residential neighborhood, you’ll want to be especially careful on Halloween.
Families with youngsters are out trick-or-treating, crossing streets and walking in driveways. Drive slower than normal to make sure you are keeping the little ghosts and goblins in your neighborhood safe.
3. Avoid using your phone while driving
Cell phones are a driving distraction that always should be avoided. (See Part 2 of “10 Dangerous Practices to Avoid While Driving.”) On Halloween, it’s even more important! With children out on the streets and more traffic, you’ll want to make sure you keep eyes on the road.
Put your cell phone in your glovebox while you drive to avoid the temptation to check it while driving. To help with sounds coming from your glovebox that might make you curious, turn off your phone or if you have an iPhone with iOS11, put your phone in “driving mode” before putting it in the glovebox.
4. Use your turn signals
You should always use your turn signals, but be extra vigilant about using them on Halloween. With the increased foot traffic, it’s important to signal when turning to avoid an accident with other cars and pedestrians.
Keep Halloween a fun and festive night for you and your neighbors!
By following a few, simple Halloween driving safety tips, you can enjoy the spirit of the season while keeping yourself, and others, safe.