Halloween is the spookiest night of the year, and it can get extra scary if you aren't careful on the roads. 

It’s a time for costumes, candy, and carving jack-o’-lanterns, and many people, young and old alike, will be out and about trick-or-treating, partying, or visiting their local haunted house.

With all of these excited revellers on the streets, it can casue a few extra problems for drivers. But by following these basic safety tips, you can help ensure a safe and enjoyable Halloween for everyone.

Here are nine essential tips for driving safely at October 31:

Slow down and stay alert

Never mind the ghouls and ghosts; All Hallows’ Eve is a time to keep an eye out for pedestrians, and children in particular, who will be walking the streets.

They’ll often be decked out in dark costumes making them even trickier to spot, so slow down and be vigilant. This is especially important in residential areas where excited trick-or-treaters might dart into the road without any notice.

Remember: on Halloween, reduce your speed, keep your eyes peeled and be prepared to stop suddenly if needed.

Stay patient

As with the first point about being alert, you will also need to show a little patience on Halloween night, and plan ahead so you aren't dashing about and leaving things until last minute.

With so many events going on traffic can be slow with an increased number of vehicles – and pedestrians, of course – on the roads.

Bear this in mind beforehand so you don’t get caught out, and if there is a delay, you should never act in an aggressive way. Being a little late is better than causing an accident.

Turn on the headlights

Halloween falls at that time of year when the nights are starting to draw in and clocks are due to change, but we’re not quite at the darkness of winter stages. As such, it’s important to turn your headlights on in the evening, even if it's not completely dark yet.

Not only will this make your vehicle more visible to pedestrians and other drivers, it can also help light up those dark costumes worn by many children. Remember, many of these costumes are designed to blend into the shadows – if they were bright and reflective, they wouldn’t be scary! – making visibility even trickier.

Watch out, there’s decorations about!

To say that some people go all out with Halloween decorations would be an understatement. People are increasingly going to more extreme lengths to out-scare their neighbours, with towering skeletons and elaborate graveyard popping up in otherwise sleepy residential streets.

They can pose several hazards, from stray pumpkins being blown into the road to especially realistic decor causing drivers to make a double take when some gruesome ornaments more resembles a crime scene.

They can also obstruct your view of the street ahead, with witches hanging from lampposts to giant flags flapping in the wind, and these can have the added danger of causing pedestrians to act in unexpected ways, such as getting a selfie next in the middle of the road just to include that photogenic house.

Avoid all distractions

As with any other night of the year, anything that distracts your driving can be a hazard, but you need to be extra careful on Halloween with so many other additional things to keep an eye out for.

That means no messing about on your phone and focus on the road, taking extra care even when doing routine things, like changing the radio. If it helps to prevent an accident, then it’s well worth it.

Premium parking

Parking might be tricky at popular events, and you might need to queue and pay a little extra to find a spot. However, that’s better than risking it and landing yourself with a hefty fine for parking recklessly, or even worse, causing an accident by blocking an important space.

You can check our post on the do’ and don’ts or parking in streets, but as a rule park respectfully as you would on any other night of the year: don’t block driveways, other drivers, and be careful around children’s events.

Designate a driver or combine a ride home

Halloween isn’t all about the kids, and there’s a good chance you might be going to a spooky party yourself. In which case, the less cars on the road, the less chance of an accident, and it pays to plan in advance and find a designated driver.

This is especially important is there’s alcohol involved. If you know there’ll be the temptation of a big cauldron of eerie punch, do the right thing and leave the wheels at home.
And if you can’t find a designated driver, you can still split the cost of getting home with your friends by planning to get a taxi or other service that can get you home safely.

Have you checked your vehicle?

This is common sense advice for every night of the year, but if you’ve got an important party to get to, and you’ve opted to drive instead of share, make sure everything is in working condition.

There will be lots of vehicles on the road, which not only increases the chances of an accident, but will put extra pressure on the breakdown services.

If you don’t want to be pulled up in the hard shoulder dressed like Dracula, be sure to check your lights, tyres, and anything else that can reduce the chances of having a Halloween to remember for all the wrong reasons.

Finally... don’t forget Guy Fawkes Night!

That's right - Guy Fawkes Night is just five days after Halloween! Also known as Bonfire Night, it falls on November 5 every year, and is also a time when young and old are out and about enjoying themselves later than usual.

An historical event that commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes and others attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, it is best known today as a time to celebrate by lighting bonfires and fireworks. As with the Halloween decorations, it can be easy to get distracted by fireworks so take care if driving.

Both Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night are nights to enjoy as the weather gets a little chillier, and by being a lttle bit careful everyone should be able to enjoy this magical time of year

By following these simple tips you can make sure everyone gets treats and not tricks.

Happy Halloween!