Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which means neighborhoods across Johnson County will be packed with kids from late afternoon into the night. For a new driver, it’s one of the trickiest evenings of the year. A little planning makes it a safe one.

Why Halloween night is different

Kids cross mid-block and dart out between parked cars, not just at corners.
Dark costumes and masks make children hard to see and limit their own view of traffic.
Trick-or-treaters are focused on candy, not cars.
It gets dark early, and drivers get distracted looking at decorations.

Halloween driving tips for teens

Slow way down in neighborhoods. Drive well below the posted limit so you have time to stop.
Turn your headlights on early, even before it’s fully dark.
Scan between parked cars, driveways and curbs. Expect someone small to step out.
Back out of driveways slowly, and check behind you twice.
Put the phone away. Kansas teen permit and restricted license holders can’t use a phone while driving except to report an emergency.
Never pass a stopped car. It may be letting kids out.
Skip neighborhood shortcuts during peak trick-or-treat hours if you can.

Know your license limits

Halloween parties and plans can collide with Kansas teen driving rules:

Instruction permit: a licensed adult 21 or older must be in the front seat.
Restricted license (15): driving is limited to school, work and religious activities, and you can’t carry non-sibling minors. Driving friends to a party isn’t allowed.
Less restricted privileges (16): you can drive alone from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. (plus work, school activities and religious services), with no more than one non-sibling passenger under 18. Many parties run past 9.

For parents

An early-evening drive together on Halloween is great practice, and it counts toward the 50 supervised hours Kansas requires. Talk through the plan ahead of time, and offer a ride home so your teen never feels pressure to break the rules.

One more reminder

Clocks fall back on Sunday, November 1, so evening drives get dark an hour earlier. Now is a good time to practice night driving together.

Want your teen to learn hazard awareness from a pro? View our upcoming class sessions.

Source: Kansas Department of Revenue, Graduated Driver License Requirements.