MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – On October 31st, parents, children, ghosts, ghouls, and goblins will all make their way to the streets to take part in the annual tradition of trick-or-treating. However, due to the busy atmosphere and large crowds of people walking around at night, Halloween is also one of the most dangerous times of the year. According to
Safe Kids USA, children are twice as likely to be involved in vehicle-related accidents on Halloween than they would any other day of the year. Make the road safer for trick-or-treaters this year with these
6 tips for safe Halloween driving.
1. Check Your Oil and Coolant
Your vehicle's oil and coolant help to regulate the temperature of your engine, preventing it from overheating as you drive. Without proper oil levels, your engine's components will rub against one another, creating friction, producing heat and causing damage to important parts of your engine. Additionally, a low coolant level can cause heat to produce at a much faster rate, which can quickly create problems within your engine and its components. An overheating engine can cause a vehicle to break down and increase the chances of traffic buildups and accidents on the road. Keep an eye on your fluid levels to increase your safety on the road!
Our Recommendation: You should have your
oil changed every 3,000-5,000 miles, or whenever your vehicle owner's manual tells you to do so, and have your coolant checked and changed every 30,000 miles. If you aren't sure how to check your oil or coolant, our
guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions and indicators to determine whether or not you need your oil or coolant changed!
2. Test Your Headlights and Taillights
If you're planning on driving at night, one of the most important components to check before you hit the road are your headlights and taillights. Your headlights will help you spot pedestrians and hazards on the road as you drive, keeping both you and other trick-or-treaters safe this Halloween. Your taillights serve a similar purpose, as they help to notify pedestrians and other drivers behind you when you are preparing to stop or take a turn. Making sure your headlights and taillights are in working condition can make a huge difference this Halloween season.
Our Recommendation: Bring a friend along for this one! When the sun goes down, have them stand in front of your parked vehicle as you turn it on, engaging the headlights. Next, turn on your left turn signal, then your right turn signal. After that, make your buddy stand behind the vehicle and repeat the process. If they notice any dim or dark headlights or taillights, wait until the morning and then bring it into our
Service Center. We'll make sure your lights are in proper working condition before Halloween begins!
3. Practice Street Safety
Street safety might seem like a no-brainer if you've been driving for a long time, but people can be very unpredictable on Halloween. Groups will frequently jaywalk or cross the street at the last second at busy intersections. While this may be frustrating as a driver, practicing defensive driving during the holiday season can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a Halloween nightmare.
Our Recommendation: Pay very close attention to speed limits, crosswalks, and other street signs that can indicate whether or not you will need to stop. If you see pedestrians attempting to cross the road, give them the right of way and allow them to proceed. Additionally, if you approach a yellow light, do
not try to make the light and cross the intersection! This is an extremely unsafe driving habit and can lead to dangerous consequences. Refer to these
Halloween driving safety tips to keep your trick-or-treaters and passengers safe this year.
4. Fill Your Tires
Driving with low air in your tires can affect your vehicle in a variety of ways. You'll experience poor gas mileage, have difficulty braking, and may even encounter damage to your axles or wheels themselves. Keeping your tires properly inflated can help you avoid accidents, costly repairs, and will greatly improve your fuel economy.
Our Recommendation: First, check the amount of PSI or pressure your vehicle owner's manual says your tires should be at. Next, purchase a
tire gauge to help you determine your tires' PSI. Finally, head to a nearby gas station or tire inflation center and find the nearest air pump. Unscrew the small cap on your hubcap and insert the air pump, pressing down on the lever to engage the air. Alternate filling your tires with pressure and checking your tires' pressure on the gauge to determine when they are at their appropriate level. Lastly, once you've successfully filled all your tires to their proper PSI, screw the caps back on your tires.
5. Use Your Vehicle's Advanced Safety Features
Do you own a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac vehicle? Good news! It's probably equipped with a suite of advanced safety features! From the optional Adaptive Cruise Control to the standard Rear Vision Camera, you can make the road a much safer place with your vehicle's safety features.
Our Recommendation: If you own or are interested in buying or leasing a new vehicle, explore some of the
advanced safety features that come standard or optional on most GM vehicles, then let us know if you want to schedule a
test drive to see how this technology works in person!
6. Have Your Vehicle Inspected
The best way to ensure that your vehicle is run effectively on the road this Halloween is to have it inspected. Our ASE Certified service team members can help with oil changes, coolant flushes, tire changes, headlight replacements, and much more. You can
schedule a check-up to have your vehicle's important components inspected to make sure that it is safe to drive.
Our Recommendation: The best way to keep your vehicle in great shape is by staying up to date on its
routine maintenance. It's an important part of vehicle ownership that can often be overlooked, but proper care and effort will ensure that your car, truck, crossover, or SUV lasts a very long time.
It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially on a busy and crowded day like Halloween. Make the streets a less dangerous place this October 31st with these
6 tips for safe Halloween driving. As we mentioned earlier, one of the best ways to protect yourself on the road is to take advantage of the
advanced safety features available on GM vehicles. Also, let us know if you have any questions or would like to try these safety features for yourself by
scheduling a free test drive!
At
Hank Graff Mt. Pleasant we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our
Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our
Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.
Websites: Chevrolet:
HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac:
GraffBGC.com
Follow us on:
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram,
Pinterest,
Google+, and
YouTube
