Tennessee Injury Law Center
Today, October 26th, is National Tennessee Day. We did not even know there was such a thing, but we did know that it is still National Pedestrian Safety Month and in five days we will be celebrating Halloween and lots of pedestrians will be out and about. Right now, there is so much we can’t control (the pandemic, the election, our self-control around Halloween candy, etc.), but we can control some things to help ensure the safety of all those trick-or-treaters on Saturday. Take a minute and refresh yourself on these Halloween safety tips.
We know we sound like a broken record sometimes when it comes to the first three tips, but they are so vitally important and continue to be a safety issue. First, if you are driving on Halloween, slow down. Children are not as experienced in pedestrian safety as adults. Combine that lack of experience with exuberance over trick-or-treating and a sugar rush and you are likely to get the occasional child who does not look as they cross the street or who rushes into the intersection without ensuring it is safe to do so. By lowering your speed, you increase your ability to stop in time especially with the decreased visibility that night-time creates.
Second, do not drive impaired. In Tennessee, we are still enjoying nice temperatures and if you are headed to an outdoor party or event, be especially mindful about driving. Alcohol, prescription drugs and some over-the-counter drugs can reduce reaction time and judgment and increase your risk for an accident in which you could hurt yourself or someone else or both. If you see a vehicle being driven erratically or in a manner that appears unsafe, report the vehicle to law enforcement.
Third, please do not let your phone or anything else in your vehicle become a distraction from your primary obligation of driving safely.
In addition to those big three safety reminders, here are some other driving safety tips for Halloween night.
- Pay close attention as you enter or exit a driveway, alley or intersect with any sidewalk.
- Turn your headlights on early to make your vehicle more visible.
- Turn your radio down so you can hear what is going on around you and your vehicle.
- Do not immediately pass another vehicle that has stopped in the road. The driver could be picking up or dropping off children or children could be passing in front of the vehicle. Wait, assess the situation and then slowly and cautiously pass the other vehicle.
- Make sure the windows on your vehicle are clean and free from any obstructions so that you can see clearly in all directions.
The next two tips are not driving related but are still important: (a) put your dogs away even if they are the best boy or girl. Dogs, like children, can get excited and jump, knocking down small children or they might start feeling territorial and nip or bite; (b) if you are expecting trick-or-treaters at your house, make sure access to your front porch is hazard-free and well lit.
Best witches to everyone for a safe and fun Halloween. But, as always, we are here if you need us. Our award-winning attorneys handle all accident cases on a contingency basis so we only get paid if we recover money for you and your family, and we offer a free, initial consultation so that you can find out if we think you have a case at zero cost to you. That is a boo-tiful thing!
