Halloween driving: Tips from IAM RoadSmart

It’s Halloween! Whatever your plans are, be it going to a fancy-dress party, or taking your kids trick or treating, make sure that you read some of these tips from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman, on how to stay safe this Halloween.

Children

There are more children around on Halloween so make sure you take a little more time and caution when driving through residential areas. Children can be unpredictable, so keep your eyes out for them and expect the unexpected. 

If your children are old enough to go trick or treating without you, give them some rules on how to stay safe. Make sure they choose a safe place to cross the road, and not in between parked vehicles as they may have trouble seeing whether a vehicle is coming down the road. The oncoming driver certainly won’t see them either.

Adults

Halloween isn’t just for kids! If you’re going to a party, order a cab ahead of time or make sure you have a designated driver to collect you. If you’re in a fancy-dress costume that is dark, motorists may not see you trying to cross a road. Go to a well-lit area or crossing point if you need to cross the road.

Car safety

Halloween isn’t always about the treats! It’s tricks and pranks, that could possibly involve your car. If you’ve found your car vandalised in any way, firstly, call the police to inform them. Then ask your neighbours, they may have CCTV and can help with an investigation. If you’re driving your children to different houses to trick or treat some family or friends, make sure they’re buckled up each time, no matter the distance.

Costumes

If your children are out trick or treating buy some reflective tape so they’re more visible to drivers or give them glow sticks as another option.

For younger children try and put them in lighter costumes to make it easier for motorists to see them.

Pet safety

Keep your pets in a safe environment by creating a quiet, safe place for them. There will be plenty of people knocking at the door which may cause irritation.

As a driver or rider, be on alert as a pet may have escaped out of fear.

“Trick or treating in the UK has a lot more treats than tricks, but there are some individuals that throw eggs or worse, but generally the whole evening is a light-hearted affair aimed mainly at youngsters. Enter into the spirit of the evening and it may bring a smile to your face. Even the older teenagers can’t resist a bucket of sweets. Try not to get distracted on the road by the ghosts and ghouls. Slow down if you see a group of children, they will be distracted, and extra care is required. And remember to be in before midnight, who knows what happens in the witching hour!”

Have a look at our latest video on Halloween driving.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1.       Richard Gladman is IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards.

2.       IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com

To find out the name of your own local IAM RoadSmart group please visit: https://wwwiamroadsmart.com/local-groups

Media contacts:

Further information from:

IAM RoadSmart press office – 020 8996 9777 

press.office@iam.org.uk / www.iamroadsmart.com

ISDN broadcast lines available

Follow us:

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/IAMRoadSmart

On Twitter: @IAMRoadSmart  

ENDS ALL