The Scary Truth About Halloween and Drinking

The scariest part of Halloween isn’t the spooky costumes. It isn’t the eerie haunted houses either. What’s truly scary is the number of drunk drivers who hit the roads.

While many may find this hard to believe, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that fatal crashes involving a drunken driver occur three times more often on Halloween then on New Year’s Eve? That’s right ….. Halloween is deadlier than New Years Eve!

Almost half (48%) of all crash fatalities on Halloween in 2012 involved a drunk driver, compared to 31% on an average day that year, reports NHTSA. And, more than 25% of Halloween crash deaths that year were pedestrians, compared to 14% on an average day.

Beware….. these numbers usually are even higher when the holiday falls on a weekend like it does this year. Research has found that average alcohol consumption on Halloween rises nearly 30% when it falls on a Friday or Saturday – versus 5% on a Monday (Alcohol Monitoring Systems Inc.)

There’s no doubt these statistics are scary — and for many very surprising. But there are steps you and your family can take to keep your Halloween safe. The NHTA suggests:

For Drivers:

• Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: If you can plan to attend a party, you can plan to get home safely by using your community’s sober ride program, taking a taxi, or using public transportation. And use the same safer options to help a friend who has been drinking get home safely, too.

• Drive with Caution: Slow down and be alert, particularly in residential areas where you know kids will trick-or-treat.

• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully: Even if kids have been told to look both ways when crossing the street, a lot of them won’t be on guard in places they don’t expect traffic. You’re the adult, so look out for them.

• Eliminate Distractions: Keep electronic devices out of reach when you’re driving to avoid the temptation. Keep an eye out for children not for a new text or email.

For Pedestrians:

• Protect Kids: Children under 12 should have adult supervision.

• Obey the Rules: Always use sidewalks or walk facing traffic as close to the side of the road as possible on roads that lack sidewalks. And of course, obey all of the rules of the road.

• Stick to Your Neighborhood: Kids should trick-or-treat in groups and stick to familiar areas that are well lit.

• Safe Costumes: Instead of wearing masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision, choose face paint. Also, decorate costumes with reflective tape and have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights.

• Adults Should Walk Sober: Adults should know that walking when impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, so designate a sober friend to walk you home.

Substance abuse can be scary, but you don’t have to face it alone. If you think you or someone you know is struggling with drugs and alcohol, reach out to a local treatment center. The clinicians at Kiva Recovery are expertly trained to work with you to determine how best to get you or your friend or loved one the help s/he needs.

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