A driving expert is warning motorists that seemingly harmless Halloween items - from pumpkins to decorations - could turn into high-speed hazards in a collision.
The warning comes from Imran Malek at DrivingExperience.com, the UK's leading provider of track driving experiences, ahead of Halloween weekend and just after the autumn clock change, when darker evenings lead to a rise in road collisions.
Imran cites data showing that a 500-gram object, such as a small pumpkin, a trick-or-treat bucket or a loose dashboard decoration, can strike with a force equivalent to 10 kilograms in a 30 mph crash.
At motorway speeds, the impact can exceed 60 kilograms - enough to cause serious injury to anyone inside the vehicle.
Imran Malek said: "A car travelling at 30 mph comes to a stop in less than a second during a crash - but anything inside it keeps moving."
"That's why even small, everyday items can become dangerous. A trick-or-treat bag on the dashboard, a pumpkin on the passenger seat, or a drink bottle rolling around the footwell can all cause harm or distraction. It takes just a second for fun to turn frightening."
Safety researchers have long warned about the risk posed by unsecured objects inside vehicles. Dr Claire Farrow, a human-factors specialist at Cranfield University's Vehicle Safety Group, notes in published work that "even light items can exert forces many times their own weight during a rapid deceleration, creating potentially serious secondary impacts for occupants."
Motorists are advised to remove or secure any loose items before driving - particularly seasonal decorations that might be sat on a dashboard or costumes - to ensure nothing interferes with vision or vehicle control.
Drivers can face prosecution for driving without due care and attention if objects obscure their view or restrict movement, with penalties including a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Imran added: "It's easy to overlook small items in the car, especially when you're in a rush or getting into the Halloween spirit, but they can make a real difference to safety in an emergency. Taking a few seconds to secure things properly can prevent serious injuries."
If you fancy a real fright this Halloween, forget haunted houses - try taming a roaring Monster Truck or unleashing the screaming banshee that is the Ariel Atom. It’s horsepower meets horror show, and the only thing scarier than the speed… is how much you’ll love it.
