Halloween is the most dangerous night for children. Kids are twice as likely to be hit by a driver on Halloween than any other day of the year. That’s why we all must follow a few key safety tips that will keep our kids safe and ensure we all have a happy Halloween!
Drive Slow (5 mph)
If you see trick or treaters on the sidewalk, the best thing you can do is slow down! You never know when someone might run across the street to the next house or chase a Halloween mask caught in the wind. Ideally, you should coast through the streets, using just enough gas to keep your momentum.
When you slow down to 5-10 miles per hour, you’re giving yourself and trick or treaters enough time to react. In the worst-case scenario, if there is an accident, a slow vehicle will cause much less damage than one moving at 20 or 30 miles per hour.
Clean Your Windshield
Many Halloween costumes are primarily black. Witches, skeletons, and vampires all use black as their main color. It can be difficult to see these costumes at night, especially if you have smudges on your windshield. That’s why it’s important to clean your windshield before going out on Halloween.
Use soap and water, visit a car wash, or even use Lime-A-Way if you have hard water stains. Better visibility means you’ll spot trick or treaters as early as possible and can better notice sudden movements.
Put Phone on Do Not Disturb
The best way to avoid distracted driving is to have your phone out of reach and on do not disturb. On Halloween night, the glow of an incoming text message is extremely dangerous. The bright light causes your eyes to readjust, meaning you lose some of your night vision. Likewise, you take your eyes off the road when pedestrians need you to stay focused.
Follow these tips, and we can all have a Halloween that’s safe and fun. However, if the worst happens and your trick or treater is hurt by a car on Halloween, we’re here to help. If you’d like a Valdosta auto injury attorney from the Studstill firm to evaluate your case, please send us an email or call (229) 515-8900.