As Halloween approaches, AAA reminds ghosts and goblins, trick-or-treaters, parents, and party goers of the dangerous traffic safety concerns associated with the holiday. Halloween typically brings increased pedestrian activity and drunk driving – both of which converge this weekend as Halloween activities begin ahead of the holiday itself, on Thursday, October 31.
Halloween Dangers: Child Pedestrian Safety and Drunk Driving
A scare in good fun is expected on Halloween, but AAA warns, not when it comes to child pedestrian safety.
- According to Safe Kids Worldwide, on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that Halloween is consistently one of the top three days of the year for pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
- Deadly after dark – the nighttime fatality rate on U.S. roadways is three times higher than the daytime rate, and 76% of pedestrian fatalities occur at night, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
- More than 40% of Halloween crash fatalities involve drunk drivers (NHTSA).
Creative costumes, trick-or-treating and bags full of goodies become top Halloween priorities, but safety often becomes an afterthought. Excited trick-or-treaters can forget about safety, so drivers, party-goers and parents must be even more alert, as the risk of kids being injured by moving vehicles increases on Halloween night.
“With an increased risk of pedestrian crashes on Halloween night, AAA is encouraging parents to take the time to make trick-or-treaters and their costumes safer and more visible to motorists,” said Morgan Dean, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Public and Government Affairs Manager for Virginia.
Halloween is a statistically dangerous night for drunk driving. Because of parties, trick-or-treating, and other festivities, Halloween night can be especially dangerous on our nation’s roads. According to NHTSA:
- Between 2016 and 2020, there were 129 drunk-driving fatalities on Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31 through 5:59 a.m. November 1).
- Adults between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-four had the highest percentage (68%) of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night in 2020. During that same night, 11 pedestrians were killed in drunk-driving crashes.
“Because Halloween falls on a Thursday this year, we expect that festivities will likely be underway on the weekend, as well. We’re urging drivers to keep an eye out for pedestrians all weekend long, slow down in neighborhoods, and avoid distractions and impairment behind the wheel to help keep everyone safe,” Dean said.
Halloween Safety Tips for All!
For motorists:
- Eliminate distractions while driving, focus on the road and trick-or-treaters.
- Slow down in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic signs and signals, give yourself extra time to react to children who may dart into the street.
- Look for children crossing the street. They may not be paying attention to traffic and may cross the street mid-block or between parked cars.
- Carefully enter and exit driveways and alleys, taking extra care if you are backing up or turning.
- Turn your headlights on to make yourself more visible – even in the daylight.
For parents:
- Make sure Halloween costumes are flame-retardant and light in color to improve visibility.
- Be bright at night – have trick-or-treaters use glow sticks or wear retro-reflective tape on costumes and on treat buckets.
- Ensure disguises don’t obstruct vision and avoid full facemasks.
- Create face masks that coordinate with costumes and won’t obstruct vision.
- Ask an adult or older child to supervise children under age 12.
- Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas and along established routes.
- Teach children to stop only at well-lit houses and to never to enter a stranger’s home or garage.
- Review trick-or-treating safety precautions, including pedestrian and traffic safety rules.
For trick-or-treaters:
- Stay on sidewalks and avoid walking in streets if possible.
- If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
- Look both ways and listen for traffic before crossing the street.
- Watch for cars turning or backing up.
- Cross streets only at the corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks, and never cross between parked vehicles or mid-block.
- Trick-or-treat in a group if someone older cannot go with you.
- Tell your parents where you are going.
- Carry a flashlight containing fresh batteries. Never shine flashlights into the eyes of oncoming drivers.
For party goers:
- Arrange a safe ride home and/or designate a driver before partaking in any festivities.
- Always designate a sober driver.
- If you are drunk, take a taxi or ride share service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
- Before leaving for a party, load ride share apps or put numbers of local cab companies or your designated driver(s) into your phone.
- Walking impaired can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
- If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.
“Halloween is a time to make happy memories, not tragic nightmares,” said Dean. “The only thing scarier than zombies and witches loose on the streets is an impaired driver.”
