Don’t be a jerk-o-lantern on the road this Halloween

Sinister swerves.

Shrieks of sudden stopping. 

Shocking speeds on suburban streets.

These are what driving nightmares are made of—especially when they happen on All Hallows’ Eve. However, the frightening reality is that Halloween is known to be one of the deadliest days of the year for pedestrians. In data published by the

Journal of the American Medical Association, the risk of pedestrian fatality was 43 percent higher on Halloween than at any other time of year.

Our team at HiRoad wants you to have a “gourd” time this Halloween, which is why we have given you some tips and tricks to stay safe as a driver on the road, a pedestrian and a party thrower.

Tips for driving safely on Halloween

On Halloween, drivers need to be vigilant and cautious when driving on the road because it involves darkness, an increase in pedestrians—especially children—and all sorts of distractions.

How can you stay safe on the road and reduce your distractions this Halloween? Here are a few tips from Safe Kids Worldwide to keep in mind: 

• Get rid of distractions

• Go slow—like a zombie

• Turn on your headlights early in the evening

• Take time to look for kids at intersections, medians and curbs

And like any classic horror film, there may be times when an accident occurs. Auto insurance can be a great tool and resource for you in the spookiest of situations.

Halloween safety tips for foot travelers

“Trick-or-treat!” 

Families, children, and pets fill the streets on Halloween as our favorite ghosts, witches, princesses and superheroes. If you are undertaking a trick-or-treating marathon this year, you might want to consider the following suggestions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• Always walk on a sidewalk, if one is available

• Make yourself visible to motorists

• Use the buddy system—walk with others

• Follow the rules of the road at driveways and intersections

• Walk toward traffic, when walking on the street

• Put distractions down (no texting and walking)

A HiRoad thought: Before you head out on All Hallows’ Eve, talk with your children, family and friends about your plans. Having everyone on the same page will help keep you and others safe throughout the night. 

Tips for party throwers and goers

Who doesn’t love a good holiday get-together? With Halloween parties being a popular tradition to many, it’s important to know how to stay safe as a host and a guest.

For the party thrower: You can help prevent guests from walking alone or driving after drinking. Serve plenty of food, offer non-alcoholic drinks or less alcohol and collect car keys from guests who are driving. Designate people to be sober drivers and walking buddies—even if that means it’s you.

For the party goer: Enjoy your evening, but be safe and smart about it. Before you begin drinking, select someone as your designated driver. If you go trick-or-treating, know how to be safe as a pedestrian (what we mentioned earlier). Keep your phone close by if there is an emergency and you need to make a quick call.

Halloween can be a “spook”-tacular event for you and your loved ones, and with these tips it can be a safe one. For more tips on driving and Halloween thrills, follow us on Instagram!

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with HiRoad®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. HiRoad is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. HiRoad makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.