You may be trick or treating with the family this year or attending gatherings with close friends and family members. If your plan is to go to a costume party with your kids, keep in mind that the roads are a dangerous place to be on Halloween night. Pedestrians are on the streets and they sometimes run out unexpectedly. Also, there were 56 fatal drunk-driving crashes Halloween 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For some people, just one drink is enough to significantly hamper driving capabilities, so you must drive defensively and stay sober yourself.

Here are nine tips on getting to and from your destination safely on the spookiest night of the year:

1. Avoid driving. Consider walking to your destination if possible or take an Uber, especially if you plan to drink alcohol.
2. Avoid drinking. Even one drink will inhibit your reaction time on a night when small children dart into the street with no warning. If you are drinking, find a designated driver or use Uber.
3. Avoid wearing costumes that interfere with driving. Leave the mask off until you get to your destination. If you’re unable to turn and twist in your costume to see your blind spots, consider asking someone else to drive.
4. Drive slowly. You never know when a child may run out into the street. If they are dressed in darker clothing, you may not be able to see them right away. Drive below the speed limit on Halloween.
5. Watch out for pedestrians. Be especially careful at intersections and drive slowly. If a car is stopped ahead of you, avoid passing. There may be children getting out of the car, and they may run out suddenly.
6. Avoid decorating your car in a way that interferes with driving. If you’re dressing your car as an animal and its floppy ears obstruct your vision, it’s a good idea to skip the car costume.
7. Be careful when backing out of a driveway or parking spot. Small children lingering behind your car are almost impossible to see unless you have backup cameras. It’s a good idea to get out and check before backing out of your garage or parking spot.
8. Place battery operated lights inside your car. This way pedestrians will see you coming from afar.
9. Make sure you have adequate car insurance. Accidents skyrocket on Halloween, and you don’t want to injure a pedestrian or damage another car by being uninsured or underinsured. Comprehensive insurance will cover theft or vandalism of your car. Liability insurance will cover another driver’s losses if you hit them; It will also cover injuries if you accidentally hit a pedestrian. Collision will cover your car if it is damaged and the accident was your fault.

Protecting Your Car While It’s Parked

On Halloween and Mischief Night (Halloween eve), your car could fall victim to pranks or criminal activity. To avoid vandalism, park in a well-lit and busy spot. Be on the lookout for:

●     Egging

●     Toilet papering

●     Vandalizing

●     Break-ins

●     Smashing windows

●     Theft

●     Flipping your car

●     Pouring sugar into your gas tank

Comprehensive insurance will cover losses from the pranks related to any of the aforementioned pranks

Bonus: Safety Tips for Trick or Treaters

If you are trick or treating this year, take a few precautions to keep your family safe:

●      Wear bright colors when walking or use glow sticks

●      Check the candy before letting the kids eat it (don’t accept homemade candy)

●      Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods

●      Encourage your children to walk, not run from house to house

●      Be careful of decorations at people’s homes that have an open flame

●      Stay in groups, and don’t let any child stray

●      Make sure all children’s costumes allow them to see and breathe properly

Key Takeaways: If you head out this Halloween, be the most vigilant driver you can be to avoid having to file a claim at the end of the night. If you have inadequate car insurance, you may have to dig into your pocket if something spooky does happen while you’re driving, so raise your liability limits if they are at minimum.

Also, make sure you and your children are visible when driving or trick or treating and park your car in a safe, well-lit area. Most importantly, make sure to have lots of fun!