It’s that time of year again when ghosts, goblins, witches, and superheroes roam the streets in search of candy. As trick-or-treaters scour for goodies around neighborhoods, truck drivers need to practice extra caution while on the job. The trucking profession always requires drivers to remember the public’s safety. Halloween can be even trickier since there will be more children and parents near the road. Here are 4 Halloween safety tips for truck drivers.
1. Avoid certain areas
There are certain places which truck drivers should try to avoid during this spooky season. Avoid roads that make you pass by schools and parks. Same goes for any area where there may be events and Halloween festivities taking place. Trucks don’t usually need to pass through small streets and neighborhoods, but this would be a time to really avoid them. Be sure to drive slower and be extra vigilant if some of these places cannot be avoided.
2. Keep watchful
While you can try to avoid certain areas, sometimes trick-or-treaters will spill over to other places. There might be more parents, cars, and children in unexpected locations. Truck drivers need to remain watchful and vigilant for children who may dart out into the street.
Be particularly careful around crosswalks, intersections, and the sides of the road.
If you see one child, there are likely more close-by. Don’t assume that parents or adults will always be accompanying their kids around the area.
3. Don’t get distracted
While truck drivers usually are mindful about not being distracted behind the wheel, everyone slips up now and again. You may have gained a certain degree of comfort with being slightly distracted because nothing has gone wrong yet.
Don’t let that confidence make you too comfortable- Halloween is definitely not the day to get distracted!
Don’t use your mobile device while behind the wheel or get distracted by a snack or drink. Remember that a split second not paying attention to the road can make all the difference for a child who decided to sprint across the street without looking.
4. Driving tips
While most of the Halloween safety tips involve being careful around the behavior of others, there are some driving tips you can follow yourself. Always use your turn signal on this day to indicate your intentions to others. Along with neighborhoods and small streets, make sure to drive slow around driveways and intersections. Don’t pass vehicles that have stopped in the road since they may be dropping off children. Try to avoid reversing entirely, since you won’t get a complete look if anyone is behind you.
With these Halloween safety tips in mind, you’ll be all set for safe driving this spooky season!
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