On Halloween, if you’re not terrified by the ghosts and ghouls around every corner, the random haunted houses and grave yards that pop up in your neighborhood, or the scary costumes you might see on Halloween night, you should definitely be terrified of the drunk drivers who think Halloween is their night to howl.
Halloween has so many drunk drivers that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 55 people died because someone else was alcohol-impaired behind the wheel. 52% of all traffic crashes on Halloween were due to a drunk driver, and even pedestrians weren’t safe. Innocent kids trick or treating were involved in 36% of fatal Halloween crashes due to drunk drivers.
That’s a lot of people who went out to have some Halloween fun and had their night end in tragedy, and it’s not just drivers over the legal blood alcohol limit of .08 who are out on the streets. Some of the most dangerous drivers are those who are just “buzzed” from a beer or two and think it’s perfectly safe to drive.
Because of that, Halloween is the best time of year for this reminder that buzzed driving is still considered drunk driving, and there are a few steps you can do to stay safe and keep your loved ones safe during Halloween.
- Even if you’re only having one drink, plan not to drive by getting a cab or asking a friend to be your driver
- If you spot a drunk driver on the road, even if you’re in doubt at all, call 911 and report that driver to the police
- Taking out trick or treaters? Make sure your little ghosts and goblins are covered in reflective tape and stay on the sidewalks in well lit areas
Drunk drivers cause crashes every day, and a lot of them probably think they’re fine to drive too. Whether it’s Halloween or any day of the year, never trust that you’ll make the right decision after drinking alcohol.