Insurance

Keep Halloween fun with wise safety tips

In the excitement of trick-or-treating, Halloween is an occasion where most little ghosts and goblins forget about important safety precautions. For this reason, it essential that parents and motorists are aware of the safety measures that are involved in keeping everyone safe on Halloween night.

On Halloween, it's best to avoid driving in subdivisions during the hours of 6-9 pm when most trick-or-treating takes place. However if you must get behind the wheel there are several Halloween driving "tricks" to keep everyone safe:

• Stay well below the speed limit and give yourself extra time to get to your destination.
• Refrain from using a cell phone at all costs while driving in neighborhoods. Driving must be your main focus as a little ghost or goblin could pop out from anywhere at any moment
• Pay extra attention to what is going around you. Be conscious of sidewalks and roadways and watch for any children darting across the street or in between parked cars.
• When pulling in or out of driveways stay alert of your surroundings.

There are also several tips that parents can follow to ensure that motorists aren't faced with any unnecessary mishaps:

• Replace your child's mask with makeup to make sure that they have a clear, unobstructed view of their surroundings
• Avoid costumes that are dark colors and that will go unnoticed by drivers. Instead choose bright colors, or add reflective tape.
• Accompany your child, or if they are old enough make sure they are with a group of responsible friends
• Instruct children to stay on sidewalks, but if they must cross to look both ways before walking across the street.¹

Halloween isn't a night where just the young forget about potentially dangerous situations; many adults attend costume parties where alcohol is being served but fail to take the necessary precautions to get home safely. If attending a party with the intention to drink plan ahead, make arrangements to get a ride with a designated driver or a taxi. Driving home impaired is never an option.

¹ "Beware don't let Halloween turn into a nightmare". The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety. www.trafficsafety.org