By Tresa Erickson

You get a real kick out of Halloween. You take great pain in decorating your house for the event and wait eagerly at your door for all of the costumed kids to stop by for a treat. Although you stock up on candy and do your best to have enough, sometimes you run out and that means a quick trip to the store on one of the busiest days of the year. This year in your candy run, keep in mind that trick-or-treaters are out and drive carefully.

In spite of all the safety reminders, kids sometimes forget to play it safe when out and about on Halloween night. In the midst of their excitement, they cross the middle of a street rather than at the corner, weave in and out of parked cars, and scamper around without watching for motorists. Along with this, some kids wear masks that obscure their vision, making it difficult for them to see motorists, while others fail to wear reflective strips on their costumes, making it difficult for motorists to see them. It is up to you, the driver, to watch out for all of the little ones.

Before you go anywhere, make sure the brakes on your car are working properly. Over time, brakes wear out. Symptoms of faulty brakes include the car pulling to one side when braking, the brake pedals feeling mushy, pulsating or grinding when braking, and the need to add brake fluid constantly. If you have experienced any of these problems, don’t pull out of your driveway. Use your spouse’s car or have a friend go get the candy. Don’t take a chance on your brakes failing you when you need them the most.

Check the lights on your car as well. Make sure they are in working order. If you have a headlight out, fix it or use someone else’s car. Don’t take a chance on that one source of light illuminating your way. You could just miss something in the dark shadows.

If your lights and brakes are in good condition, take a couple of minutes to wipe down your windshield. This will ensure maximum visibility. Then back out of your driveway slowly and make your way down the street cautiously, watching for trick-or-treaters. Be extra careful when exiting and entering. Trick-or-treaters will definitely be making their way up and down driveways and may even congregate there.

You may only be making a short trip to the grocery store, but on Halloween night, such a trip can be full of peril. Exercise caution and you will return safe and sound with candy intact long before the night is over.