Halloween is almost upon us! For kids in Anoka County, that means costumes, trick-or-treating, and late-night fun. For drivers, it means something a little different: a need for extra caution on the road.

At Heritage Auto Body, our mission is to keep you and your family safe.

In this blog, we want to share share some important tips for driving on and around Halloween, especially as the nights get longer and visibility becomes a major factor.

Things to Watch for on Halloween Night

  1. Costumed Pedestrians: Children, and even adults, dressed in dark costumes can be very difficult to see after dark. They may also be distracted by the fun of trick-or-treating and not paying attention to traffic. Be prepared for kids to dart out from between parked cars or cross the street unexpectedly.
  2. Increased Foot Traffic: Residential neighborhoods, especially those with good candy reputations, will have a significant increase in pedestrians. Slow down, stay alert, and assume there are people on or near the road at all times.
  3. Partygoers: Halloween is a popular night for parties, which can unfortunately lead to impaired drivers on the road. Always be on the lookout for signs of drunk or distracted driving.

One of the best ways to improve your safety this time of year is to make sure your headlights are in top condition. As your car ages, its plastic headlight lenses can become foggy, yellow, or hazy. This “cloudiness” is caused by oxidation from sun exposure and road debris, and it can drastically reduce the light output from your headlights—by as much as 50% or more!

Dim headlights not only make it harder for you to see the road, but they also make it harder for other drivers (and pedestrians!) to see you. It’s a risk that’s just not worth taking.

This October, before you head out for a night of spooky fun, take a look at your headlights. If they look a little hazy, don’t wait for a close call to do something about it. And while you’re looking them over, if you find any dents or dings, be sure to give us a call.

Learn more about how we can help you drive safer this season.