Halloween can be a great holiday for families, but trick-or-treaters and motorists need to be extra careful during Halloween because of the increased risk of car accidents. According to a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the chances for pedestrian fatalities on this day increase by 43 percent, and many of those affected are children. Now is the time to learn why these unfortunate events happen and how to prevent them.
Halloween comes with many risks for pedestrians and motorists. While younger children start their candy quests while it is still light out, the majority of trick-or-treaters come out at dusk and continue until it is dark. This means that they are less visible to drivers who are coming home from work, heading out to work, or are on the roads for other reasons.
Rainy weather decreases the number of people who will be out ringing doorbells on the holiday, but the roads can be slippery or even icy, so this is something else to be aware of on Halloween night.
The holiday is also a big party day, as well as the night prior, so the risk of having more drunk drivers on the road increases on Halloween.
Most trick-or-treaters stay in neighborhoods with more houses and busy downtown areas, where there are lower speed limits. Stick to the speed limit, and decrease your speed even further when you know that the children will be out. Be ready to stop, and be extra careful at intersections and crosswalks.
Keep in mind that there will be many children out on Halloween who could get hurt by drivers who are distracted by their phones. Keep your phone on Do Not Disturb mode, and avoid using your GPS while driving.
It is always important to check both ways before pulling into or out of your driveway, so remember to do it on Halloween. Once you are moving, also go a bit slower in case there are any eager trick-or-treaters walking or running your way. If you need to pass vehicles stopped on streets, look carefully first because they might be loading and unloading passengers.
When driving on Halloween, also be sure that your headlights are on before the sun sets for added visibility. Keep you windows on and the radio turned down too so you can hear what is going on outside.
Going to a Halloween party? Make sure that your costume does not obscure your vision or prevent you from using your arms, hands, legs, and feet while driving.
Media Car Accident Lawyer at the Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello Helps Drivers After Halloween Crashes
A serious car accident on Halloween can change your life. If you become injured in a Halloween crash, you can get legal advice from our experienced Media car accident lawyer at the Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello. Call us at (610) 892-4940 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation today. Located in Media, Pennsylvania, we serve clients in Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Lancaster, Montgomery County, Norristown, Philadelphia, Reading, and West Chester.
