SPOOKED AT THE WHEEL!

'Invisible' trick-or-treaters and costume chaos leave 7 in 10 drivers wanting to hand over the keys

It’s not just ghosts and ghouls giving Brits the chills this Halloween, it’s the sheer terror of getting behind the wheel.

New research from temporary car insurance provider Tempcover, reveals nearly a third of drivers (29%) - equivalent to over 12 million motorists* - say that they are more nervous about driving on Halloween than usual, increasing to a massive 50% of Gen Z motorists. So fearful are these motorists that three-quarters (74%) would rather hand over the keys than face the ghoulish road mayhem on the 31st October.

Haunted roads

The research also revealed Britain’s biggest driving fears and phobias, with driving in snow or icy conditions topping the list (55%), closely followed by aggressive tailgating (44%), heavy rain (39%), and driving in the dark (32%). With these conditions set to ramp up as the darker, spookier months draw in, motorists are bracing for a more stressful time on the roads.

But 31st October brings specific terrors, fuelled by the danger posed by an increase in pedestrians. When motorists were asked what exactly makes Halloween driving so stressful, the primary fears involved children and visibility.

Two in five (42%) drivers who are more nervous than usual about driving on Halloween cited young trick-or-treaters acting unpredictably or running into the road as a major cause for concern, closely followed by worry that dark costumes make it difficult to spot pedestrians (39%). Nearly a third (30%) were also nervous about increased distractions from elaborate Halloween decorations and costumes.

Indeed, newly launched data suggests that these fears are rooted in fact - with more accidents taking place on the 31st October in comparison to the day before and the day after*.

Darkness dread

Driving in the dark was found to be something motorists go to great lengths to avoid. Three quarters of motorists (72%) are more nervous driving in the darker months, which translates into altered behaviour: a third of these (33%) go as far as changing their journey time to avoid driving in the dark altogether, 13% have switched to public transport, and one in five (19%) have avoided getting in the car altogether.

The fears are rooted in a scary reality. A shocking 17% of motorists have already suffered a crash or near-miss during the darker months, and a quarter (23%) admit they drive as normal but feel 'very afraid' doing so. Among those who’ve crashed or had a near miss in the dark, the riskiest areas include sharp bends (28%), unlit roads (27%), and quiet country lanes or motorways (25%) - all of which are higher risk environments when visibility drops.

Fear not, the rise of the Haul-o-ween driver

From ‘invisible’ pedestrians to unexpected traffic, anxiety is running riot, turning October 31st into a stress-fest for millions of drivers. The good news is that the research also revealed there’s an emerging group of ‘Haul-o-ween Heroes’ - those six in ten Brits (65%) who are happy to step up and take the wheel for nervous friends and family.

"Halloween doesn’t have to be all frightening,” says Adam Craddock, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover. “Our temporary car cover is designed precisely for these scenarios, allowing a confident driver to get fully insured in minutes, ensuring everyone can focus on the fun, not the fear of this spooky season."

The top reasons motorists are most nervous about driving on Halloween than usual:

• Young children (trick-or-treaters) acting unpredictably or running into the road - 42%
• Pedestrians are wearing dark costumes that make them difficult to see - 39%
• There are more pedestrians than usual e..g, trick or treaters and party goers - 37%
• There is reduced visibility during this time as it gets darker earlier - 32%
• Increased distractions on the road e.g., looking at Halloween decorations or people's costumes - 30%
• Unexpected traffic or sudden stops on routes e.g. for party pick-ups or dropping off trick-or-treaters - 24%
• The glare from decorative lights are either distracting or blinding - 20%
• Unfamiliar routes when travelling to a new destination - 16%
• I am afraid of the costumes people wear - 14%

Research conducted by Mortar Research amongst 2,030 UK motorists from 10th-13th October 2025.

*Based on data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) which shows that 42,120,966 people now hold a full UK driving licence (April 2024), with the new research showing that 29% of UK motorists (12,215,080) admit to being more nervous than usual when driving on Halloween.

*Data is from the STATS19 2024 collisions data set which is the most recent data published.