Drive Safe This Halloween
Halloween night can be a scary time for drivers, but not because of the frightening decorations hanging on all the homes. Instead, driving on Halloween can be risky because there are usually more drunk drivers and pedestrians, i.e., trick-or-treaters. If you are heading out on Halloween night this year, then you should check out this quick list of driving tips first.
- Slow down: Trick-or-treaters like to crisscross the street to hit all the houses and get as much candy as possible. While driving in a residential area, it is practically guaranteed that you will see some trick-or-treaters in the street. To give yourself more reaction time to stop in case a child runs into the road without looking, you should reduce your speed a bit. If residential speed limits in your area are 25 mph, then you should slow down to 20 mph, for example.
- Use your headlights: Turn on your headlights as soon as trick-or-treaters start to appear on the streets in your neighborhood. Even if the sun has not set or even begun setting, it helps to flick on your headlights. This added bit of illumination makes your car that much more visible to pedestrians, reducing the chances of getting into an accident with them. Your headlights will also help you spot trick-or-treaters in darker costumes.
- Stay sober: Never drink and drive. Halloween night – and most other holiday nights – tend to have more drunk drivers than other nights because more people leave parties after having too many drinks. The odds of getting into a car accident with a drunk driver will spike if you have also had a drink before heading out. If you are going to a party, then designate a sober driver before you arrive.
- Drive tomorrow: What is the best way to make sure you don’t get into a car accident or pedestrian accident on the busy streets of Halloween night? It is simple: just don’t drive. If you have errands that can wait until tomorrow or the next week, then you should postpone them. While staying home, you can hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, so it won’t feel like you’re missing out on any Halloween fun.
For more safety tips about Halloween and more, visit the blog of BD&J, PC in Los Angeles. If you need the help of our attorneys after an accident, then please fill out an online contact form to request a free consultation.
