Compensate for distracted trick-or-treaters as Halloween rolls into McHenry

distracted trick-or-treaters Halloween McHenry

Halloween is an exciting holiday for the

children of McHenry. This means that drivers
need to pay extra attention on the roads to
avoid accidents with distracted monsters
and ghouls.

What are you thinking about when you pull out of your McHenry driveway? Are you thinking about all the items on your shopping list as you head to the store? Are you thinking about the Bears chances against Bengals in Cincinnati next Sunday, or the Packers chances hosting the Panthers? Are you thinking about the costumes for your children as Halloween approaches?

As long as we’re talking about Halloween in McHenry, maybe this is a good time to mention defensive driving as the holiday approaches. Halloween is the one day of the year when little ghouls and goblins (or Spidermen and Princess Belles) venture outdoors en masse.

There is something about the disposition of these children that is worthy of our consideration, too

They’re generally happy. No, that word won’t do. They’re downright excited. Their adrenaline is running full-tilt through their veins and they’re energy levels are pegged to the max. They’re having the time of their young lives. They’re also distracted.

They’re thinking about their costumes and how much bootie they have in their Halloween bags, and what kind of candy they’ll get at the next door. Very few of them are thinking about traffic in the roads or what’s on your mind as you drive by.

It’s safe to say that most of the children charging to and fro across McHenry’s neighborhoods, are thoroughly and blissfully distracted.

Hopefully, they have parents along with them who have things under control and won’t allow their young charges to run into the street without checking both ways. But, as a driver, you can’t count on that. Then there are the older trick-or-treaters.

These older Halloween characters may pose an even greater problem. Since they’re older, parents may not administer as much control of their behavior. Parents will assume that they’ve taught this children about approaching roadways safely. And maybe they have. But will these children remember safety when their minds are clouded by the excitement of the season?

What it all comes down to, in the final analysis, is you, the driver. You can’t count on children to pay due attention to traffic on the road. You can’t count on them not to run out between parked cars and into the path of your car. You must increase your attention on driving to compensate for the potential that Wednesday Adams or a Minion will dart out in front of your car.

The children of McHenry are having the time of their lives. It’s our job, as drivers, to do our part to ensure they have opportunities for long lives.

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