Halloween Road Safety Tips for Drivers & Trick or Treaters

October 12, 2016

Halloween is a day that children and adults look forward to. It’s the one day of the year where you can dress up as your favorite superhero, TV character, athlete, or ghoul and have fun with your friends and family. Plus, you get candy!

However, it is also one of the busiest days on the roadways. With parents and kids rushing home after work and school so they can slip on their costumes and get ready for trick or treating or a Halloween party, there is no shortage of potential dangers on our roadways.

People often have their mind on other things when driving, traffic volumes are greater than normal, everyone is trying to get home at the same time, and it’s starting to get dark earlier in the evening. This combination of factors is a recipe for disaster if we don’t make road safety a priority.

To ensure your Halloween is a fun and safe one, we’ve put together a series of Halloween safety tips for drivers and trick or treaters alike.

Halloween Road Safety Tips for Kids

Kids, we know you are excited and have one thing on your mind – candy! You also need to pay attention to your surroundings at all times when trick or treating to ensure you and your fellow ghosts and goblins stay safe.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you head out trick or treating this year:

Always cross the street at corners

Never cross in the middle of the road. Cross at crosswalks, streetlights and where stop signs are present. Check to make sure the traffic is clear before walking into the street.

Put your phone away

Pedestrians can become just as distracted as drivers when using their phone while walking. Make sure you are paying attention to your surroundings, and not your phone, especially when crossing the street.

Make eye contact with drivers

Even if a car is stopped, it’s important to make eye contact with the driver to ensure they see you. Communication between drivers and pedestrians is important at intersections.

Walk on the sidewalks

Avoid walking on the road, in between parked cars and in other areas where you may be less visible to drivers. Also, watch out for vehicles that may be backing out of a driveway or parking spot.

Make sure your costume doesn’t impair your vision

Consider wearing face paint over masks when possible. Masks are known to restrict your vision. Also, make sure your costume fits correctly to prevent tripping hazards.

Wear reflective clothing/stickers

Be as visible as possible. Wear bright colours, carry reflective stickers and clothing and consider carrying a flashlight or glow stick. This will help you be as visible as possible to drivers.

Following these tips will ensure you have a fun-filled and safe trick or treating experience.

Halloween Road Safety Tips for Drivers

Driving on Halloween night is extra challenging for drivers. With thousands of kids running through residential neighborhoods, more cars on the road than normal, and most people in a rush to get to home, you need to be on high alert. Here are some important tips to keep in mind as Halloween approaches:

Be on high alert (especially at intersections)

From kids darting out across the street from anywhere, lower visibility, and no shortage of eye-catching Halloween costumes, you need to do your best to be on high alert, especially in residential areas where kids are most likely to be present.

Go hands free!

Halloween, of all days, is not the day you should be looking at your phone when driving, not that it’s a good idea anytime. With more pedestrians, and stop and go traffic, you never know when something will catch you off guard and require you to make a sudden stop. Keep your eyes on the road and avoid all distractions.

Give yourself more time

Being in a rush will not only make you feel stressed, it will also cause you to potentially be less alert. You know Halloween will be a busy day, so give yourself enough time to get to your destination.

Slow down

Easing up on the gas pedal is advisable. Slowing down a bit gives you more time to react if a child walks into the street, or if road conditions and visibility are poor.

Avoid costumes that impact your ability to drive

Many drivers overlook the importance of making sure their own costume doesn’t get in the way. Masks, bulky costumes, and unique footwear can all get in the way of driving safely. Avoid wearing anything that impedes your driving ability. You can always put this part of your costume on when you get to your destination.

Avoid driving during peak trick or treating hours, if possible

Perhaps the best option for drivers on Halloween is not to drive at all, especially during the peak trick or treating hours of 5pm to 9pm.

Conclusion

Halloween is one of the most fun days of the year for kids. However, amid all the fun, it’s very important not to lose sight of the importance of road safety for kids and drivers. If we all do our part, we can ensure the roads will be safe for everyone this Halloween.

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