Rules for driving on Halloween during trick-or-treat time

Driving during trick-or-treat time can be tricky

Whether or not you celebrate Halloween, if you drive on the evening of October 31st it’s important that you help protect trick-or-treaters.

Johnson Attorneys Group has put together the following driving safety tips for Halloween.

The most critical time to be mindful of young people is between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. when children and teenagers are out trick-or-treating or coming and going to Halloween parties. This is when the most severe vehicle pedestrian collisions have taken place on past Halloweens.

First, always drive slowly in residential neighbors or streets where there are pedestrians present. Never pass a stopped vehicle as the driver could be dropping off children who could suddenly dart out in front of your vehicle.

Park your car if you need to use your mobile phone. It’s extremely distracting to call, text, or surf the internet while you are driving a vehicle. If you have a passenger, ask them to make a call for you or pull over.

Children may act recklessly on Halloween. They are highly likely to dart across the street anywhere. They see a house decorated for Halloween where they might find candy and will suddenly cross without looking. They are wearing costumes and or masks that often hinder their ability to see properly. Most fatal pedestrian accidents take place midway in a street and not at intersections, according to Progressive Insurance.

Yield right-of-way to pedestrians. If you see children about to cross let them go first. Remember they may not see your vehicle approaching. The driver behind you may not see them either and by stopping you are helping them avoid being hit by someone else too.

Always use your turn signals so that other drivers know what you are doing. If you drop off or pick up your kids, turn on your hazard lights and instruct them to walk to the sidewalk and cross at the marked intersection. Better yet, park your vehicle in a place that is safe to make an exit.

Even if you have taught your children how to safely cross the street, go over these instructions again and tell them that drivers on Halloween may be distracted and that they should take extra caution crossing roads on this night.

Consider taking young children to a local community Halloween party or event. Teens may do the same or attend a party at a home or in a safe area.

Finally, if you are out celebrating and you plan to consume alcohol or use prescription drugs or marijuana, please make plans to have a safe ride home by calling an Uber or taxi, designating a sober driver or staying overnight at a hotel or the home where the party is held. Drunk driving is 100 percent preventable and the potential harm done by a collision is irrepairable.

Lastly, give children flashlights and glow sticks or place reflective tape on their costumes so they can be seen by drivers.

Johnson Attorneys Group has been a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). If you have a legal question or would like to provide feedback on this article, please contact us.

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James Johnson

James Johnson is passionate about educating the public about the myriad of individuals who are not following the rules of the road.His hope is to bring public awareness in order to change the laws to better protect our communities.