It’s October, which means that soon little ghouls and goblins will be taking to the streets of neighborhoods to take part in the time-honored tradition of Trick-or-Treating. Most of this will take place at night, which means that the risk of hitting a pedestrian with your vehicle will be much higher.
It’s up to you, the driver, to be vigilant and drive more cautiously than ever during this period of time. Of course, if you have a backup camera system installed in your car, that is a plus. You can back out of your driveway with confidence, knowing you won’t be running into any little boys or ghouls.
Here are some other tips to stay safe behind the wheel while keeping the kids safe while they wander the neighborhood to procure sweet treats.
Be Alert
You need to pay extra attention to certain areas on this night. In some communities, the kids seem to be everywhere. If you’re approaching a popular Trick-or-Treating community, slow down and pay close attention. Watch the crosswalks, and the actions of kids on the sidewalks. They may just dart out into the street. Be cautious at intersections as well. Constantly scan your surroundings for signs a child is going to cross your path, and don’t assume that everyone has a back up camera!
Put Down The Phone
Many states have laws against this anyway, and most people already know not to be distracted by their phones and devices while driving. However, if you don’t follow that rule, the least you can do for the lives of all of the children out on Halloween night is to resist the urge to pick up your phone this one night out of the year. Just think about the possibility of killing an innocent child. No one wants that, and in this case a back up camera can help. But it won’t do anything if you are distracted!
Don’t Pass Vehicles That Might Pull Over
Some parents feel the need to drive their kids from house to house. Whether you agree with this practice or consider it lazy, you shouldn’t pass any vehicle that just stops in the road in front of houses. Children are likely to open doors and step out into the roadway, and may not think to check for oncoming cars or use a back up camera.
Slow And Steady
No matter what the speed limit, if you see a concentration of Trick-or-Treaters in a certain area, you should slow down and travel below the posted speed limit to allow yourself a better shot at breaking in the event a child is to run out into the street.
Stranger Danger
Some parents park their car and let their kids head out Trick-or-Treating on their own. It is important you speak to them about the dangers of getting in someone else’s car. Remind them that you wouldn’t send someone else to come pick them up when you are waiting for them at the corner in your own vehicle (some predators like to lure kids with the old excuse “your mom asked me to come and get you because there was an emergency”), and place a glow necklace or some other shining item that your child can use to identify your vehicle in an instant so they aren’t getting into a car that is not yours in error.
Be Seen
Just as you should send your children out Trick-or-Treating with a flashlight or other illuminated device (some wear glowing pendants or glow necklaces), so too should your car be lit up for all to see. Even if it is 4 o’clock in the afternoon, turn on your lights if your car doesn’t come equipped with automatic daytime running lights so that you can be seen. Teach your kids never to shine their flashlights into the windshield of an oncoming driver.
Use Your Signals
It is more important than ever to use your turn signals. Not only should other cars know which way you are going, kids crossing intersections should know which way you intend on turning so they know if it is safe to cross or not. If you’re driving a car full of kids around, you should use your signal or hazards every time you pull over so that other drivers know what you’re doing. If you’re one of those parents who drives from house to house, use your hazards the entire time. This ensures other drivers know what you’re doing, and kids can see you.
Turn The Radio Off
You’ll want to use all of your senses to ensure you aren’t going to hit any pedestrians. For this reason, be sure to turn the radio off so that you can hear what is going on around you.
If your neighborhood is full of Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween, you’ll want a backup camera for car system. It will guarantee there are no accidents due to visibility issues. Call us today to get an easy to install backup camera for car that you can easily install, use right away, and rely on – we sell the simplest back up cameras available for your driving ease. You can also find us on Facebook for more information.