Driving Tips > Safety Columns
You can help make it a Safe Halloween
Halloween is one of the most anticipated events of the year for children and their families. But with so many ghosts, goblins and their guardians moving along darkened streets it can be scary for drivers and pedestrians.
Drive with care
The best advice is to drive cautiously in residential areas. Reduce your speed and expect to see children crossing in areas other than at cross streets and crosswalks. Watch for children who may run between parked vehicles. Make sure you stop before sidewalks and crosswalks to allow everyone to cross safely.
See and be seen
Always use your headlights one half hour before sunset and any time visibility is reduced. Many trick-or-treaters wear dark costumes, so take extra care when watching for pedestrians. Help your own children to be seen by ensuring they wear reflective tape and carry a flashlight or glow stick.
Yield to pedestrians
Drivers must stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians about to cross, unless they are on the opposite side of a street separated by a median. You must wait until the pedestrian reaches the other side or the median before you can continue.
Driving your trick-or-treater
If you are driving a child from block to block, don’t stop and wait in the middle of the street. Park your vehicle instead in a safe and legal location. Remember that you can’t park or stop within three metres of a crosswalk or nine metres of a stop sign or other traffic control device. Follow these driving tips and your Halloween will be a treat.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV, or visit the following sections of this website:
- Safe on the Streets in Vulnerable Road Users
- Child Safety in Driving Tips
- You can also access the 60-Second Driver video on Child Safety directly
