Halloween Is One of the Deadliest Nights on the Road for Pedestrians
As reported by multiple safety organizations and in a recent article by nj.com, Halloween is an extremely dangerous night on the road for pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents occur more frequently on Halloween night and it is more likely that those accidents will involve a drunk driver than on other nights. The other scary thing is that more of these accidents result in fatalities than on other nights including New Year’s Eve.
This year Halloween falls on a Saturday, research shows that when Halloween occurs on a weekend, the potential for deadly traffic accidents is even higher. It is unclear how the pandemic will impact Halloween. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put forward a number of recommendations. They have listed lower risk safe alternatives to trick or treating including:
- Carving pumpkins with members of your household or at a safe distance with non-household friends and family
- An outdoor scavenger hunt
- A virtual Halloween costume contest
- Watching a scary movie
- Having a scavenger hunt within your household instead of trick-or-treating
The CDC has stated that “many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses.” Trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treating, and attending crowded indoor costume parties have all been listed as “higher risk activities.” It is unclear whether people will heed these warnings lowering the number of drivers and pedestrians on the street, or if the numbers will remain the same.
It is important that no matter what activities you partake in this Halloween you stay safe and keep others safe. If you choose to drink, dedicate a sober driver. Follow recommendations of local health officials and make it fun! Halloween this year will undoubtedly look different, but hopefully it will make headlines for being the safest one on record.