Baltimore Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Offer Tips for Safe Driving This Halloween

With Halloween approaching, it is important to make the safety of children a top priority. One way we can do that is to commit to safer driving. Halloween is the deadliest night of the year in terms of pedestrian related car accidents. Studies show that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and fatally injured on Halloween night than on any other night of the year. Increased foot traffic is the main cause for the higher risk, but there are other factors to be aware of as well. Maryland accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton are committed to protecting those in our communities. Below, we have outlined a few things that drivers can do this Halloween to keep our streets and children safe.

Beware of Ghouls and Goblins

Children’s’ costumes can make them difficult to see and be seen. Masks, wigs, helmets and other headgear can obstruct a child’s peripheral vision, making it harder for them to spot an oncoming car. Likewise, drivers may find it difficult to see children if they are very small or a wearing a dark costume.

Drivers must be vigilant in looking out for pedestrians on Halloween, particularly during trick-or-treat hours. Keep your vehicle’s lights on, even during the day, to make it easier for pedestrians to see you coming. Avoid taking shortcuts through residential areas whenever possible. If you must drive through a neighborhood, stay alert and drive below the posted speed limit.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Many adults find Halloween as much a cause for celebration as kids do. But unfortunately, drinking and increased pedestrian traffic is known to have the potential of becoming a deadly combination. To make matters worse, Halloween will fall on a Saturday this year, making what is already a dangerous night statistically even more perilous.

Don’t let a drunk driving accident turn what should be a fun night into a tragedy. If you are planning to attend a party over the Halloween weekend, make a plan to get home safely and always designate a sober driver if you think you will be drinking. If you know of someone who is about to drive drunk, take their keys and make alternative arrangements for them to get home.

Put Down the Phone

Distracted driving is a leading cause of pedestrian fatalities. Never use a cell phone or other handheld device while driving. Studies show that the average time a person’s attention is diverted from the road while reading or composing a text is 4.6 seconds – plenty of time for an excited trick-or-treater to dart into the road and be struck.

Review Safety Plan with Your Kids

Young children should always be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. If you plan to join your children as they trick-or-treat, walk with them rather than following them in your car. You may think that driving along side of your kids is safer for them than going alone, but while you are looking out at your own child, someone else’s could easily run in front of your vehicle and get hit.

Review safe walking strategies with your children if they are going out alone. Remind them to use sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible. Approximately 80% of child pedestrian deaths occur at non-intersection locations. Children should only cross the street at corners and never between parked cars. Finally, make sure drivers can easily see your children. Use reflective tape on their costumes and treat bags and give them a flashlight or glow stick to carry.

Baltimore Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Fight for Victims of Pedestrian Accidents

If someone you or someone you love has been a victim of negligence, Maryland pedestrian accident lawyers of LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Submit an online contact form or call our 24-hour toll-free number at 800-547-4LAW (4529) today to schedule an appointment with one of our dedicated and highly qualified Baltimore accident lawyers.

Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie and Towson, allowing us to represent accident victims and their families throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood and Elkridge.