Each year, hundreds of thousands of children take to the streets in the early evening or at night to celebrate Halloween. They are often wearing things that obscure their view of you and your view of them. If you plan to be driving this Halloween, it’s critical that you take the proper precautions to protect the most vulnerable.
First, if you can avoid driving on Halloween, do so. The less cars on the road, the better. If you have kids, take them trick-or-treating close to home—either in your own neighborhood or in one that is easily within walking distance. Consider having a Halloween gathering on a day before or on the Friday or Saturday after Halloween to cut down on traffic when all those kiddos are out and about. The less driving going on that day, the better!
If you have to drive, there are a number of things you can do make it safer for all.
- If you’re driving children around for trick-or-treating, take them before it’s truly dark, if you can. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), most accidents with pedestrians happen after dark. And a report by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that driving at night is three times as risky as driving during the day.
- Make sure children are buckled correctly into their child car seat or seat belt. If a child is wearing a costume that has any kind of bulk or padding, the harness or belt may not fit properly. According to Consumer Reports, you should make or buy costumes without padding or wait to have the child put on his or her costume when you get to your destination.
- If children are getting in and out of the car, you may be tempted to let them forgo being fastened in for short distances, but it is critical to buckle them up every time. Accidents don’t magically stop happening just because you’re not going very far.
- When you are dropping children off, pull over at a safe location at the curb and away from traffic. Use your hazard lights to alert other drivers that you are there.
- Know the speed limit and drive under it—even if you don’t see any trick-or-treaters around. Slower speeds save lives.
- Keep your headlights on at all times—especially since some Halloween costumes make the wearers harder to see. Scan the road continually for pedestrians and be prepared for children to dart in front of you at any moment. Remember, if you see one child, there are likely to be others nearby.
- Get rid of all distractions—there are enough distractions around you for you to add any more to deal with. Stay off your cell phone. Turn the radio down or off completely so you can hear what’s happening around you. Save snack time for later—including your kid’s Halloween candy. And don’t pick up any items that drop on the floor until you’re completely stopped.
- Don’t pass a car that is pulled over. Children may be exiting from it.
- If you park and must back up, station another adult outside of the car to watch for any children darting behind you.
- Follow all road rules and traffic signs. Always give right-of-way to pedestrians. Assume children are not aware of your presence.
- Don’t let teenagers drive on Halloween! They are far more likely to crash than any other age group.
- Never, ever, under any circumstances drink and drive. Even a tiny amount of alcohol can impair your judgement and lead to dire consequences. And if you see a drunk driver, call law enforcement immediately.
In addition to taking precautions as a driver on Halloween, make sure your kids know how to trick-or-treat safely.
- If they are trick-or-treating in the evening or after dark, it’s preferable for children to wear light costumes, but if your kiddo has his heart set on being Darth Vader this year, make sure he wears reflective tape on his clothing. In addition, have your children carry flashlights if they are old enough. Glow sticks as necklaces and bracelets can help too.
- Never allow them to trick-or-treat alone. Parents should escort children under 12 and create a buddy system for older children to keep track of one another and encourage safe behavior.
- Teach your children to walk—not run—from house to house. They should stay on sidewalks—not on the street—and they should not walk between parked cars where they can’t be seen or behind cars that may try to back up.
- Teach them to continually watch for cars and be sure they know how to cross the road safely. When possible, they should cross at crosswalks and look for cars in all directions, including those that are turning. They should also look for cars when crossing driveways. Tell children to assume drivers can’t see them and not to expect that they have right of way.
- Have your children keep cell phones in their pockets so they are not distracted by them when walking.
If you’re throwing a party, be responsible and take action to make sure guests get home safely.
- Take keys from all guests who are drinking.
- Make sure everyone has a designated driver or has scheduled ride sharing or a taxi/Uber/Lyft service.
- Provide sleeping accommodations in your home.
- If you’re sober, take guests home yourself.
- Provide non-alcoholic beverage options.
If you’re attending a party and plan to drink, do not drive, under any circumstances!
Here at Accident & Injury Chiropractic, we want to make sure drivers and pedestrians alike are safe this coming Halloween. And if you are in a crash or hit by a driver, come and see us at one of our 14 locations immediately. Happy Halloween!