Spooky haunted houses, fun costumes, and the promise of enormous amounts of free candy make Halloween a kid-favorite holiday in Conroe, Texas and throughout the nation. Unfortunately, it is consistently one of the most dangerous nights for pedestrians.
Halloween can be particularly dangerous for two main reasons. First, there are children and pedestrians everywhere, so motorists need to be vigilant and focused behind the wheel. Second, Halloween parties involving alcohol also mean that there are more drunk drivers taking to the roadways. Public safety agencies and safety advocates are raising awareness about pedestrian safety and the dangers of drunk driving this Halloween.
Halloween Drunk Drivers and Car Accidents in Conroe, TX
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2018, over half of all roadway fatalities across the U.S. on Halloween night (from 6:00 p.m. October 31 to 5:59 a.m. November 1) involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher. Partygoers who plan on celebrating Halloween with alcohol are reminded to plan ahead to ensure a safe ride home. The NHTSA is also reminding motorists that buzzed driving is drunk driving, too.
Appoint a designated driver before the party starts, and have a backup plan in case that ride falls through. If you have to, call a cab or stay on a friend’s couch. It could save your life or a child’s life on Halloween night.
Pedestrian Injury Prevention on Halloween
The NHTSA and the National Safety Council (NSC) have great tips for increasing safety for both child and adult pedestrians on Halloween night. They’re encouraging parents to ensure children have brightly colored costumes. If costumes are dark colors, add reflective tape or stickers to clothes and trick-or-treat bags. Give children flashlights, lanterns, and glow sticks to increase visibility. Make sure all children are properly supervised during trick-or-treating. Most importantly, talk to your children about the importance of staying safe as a pedestrian on Halloween.
Keep Kids Safe on Halloween
- Children under the age of 12 years old should have adult supervision
- Kids should always stick to familiar, well-lit areas and trick-or-treat in groups
- Use face paint instead of masks, which can obstruct vision
- Send children out with glow sticks, flashlights, and reflective tape on their clothing
- Talk to kids about pedestrian safety before they go trick-or-treating
Trick-or-Treat Child Pedestrian Safety
When we think about trick-or-treating safety, we immediately think about the candy, and that’s really important to check before your children start to eat it. Another safety issue is sticking to familiar streets and reminding children to never go inside of a car or a house for candy. While most parents are diligently starting a dialogue about these trick-or-treat safety issues, it’s important that pedestrian safety and motor vehicle traffic safety aren’t overlooked for the more sensational and traditional Halloween safety topics.
Trick-or-Treating in Conroe
Parents, children, and chaperones should not be on their phones during trick-or-treating activities. Stay focused on your surroundings. Pay particularly close attention to any driveways or alleyways with running vehicles. Drivers should be on the lookout for trick-or-treaters, but you never know who is distracted or drunk behind the wheel, so keep a close eye on all children in your group. Ultimately, trick-or-treaters and other pedestrians are at the mercy of drivers on the roadways, so it’s essential for motorists to drive safely this Halloween and all year long.
Halloween Car Accidents in Conroe, Texas
According to the NSC, October ranks as the second-highest month for motor vehicle deaths in the U.S. Halloween night is especially deadly due to the increase in drunk drivers and the high numbers of pedestrians and children out trick-or-treating. Law enforcement agencies in Conroe and across the nation will be stepping up efforts to prevent and catch drunk drivers, but pedestrians still need to exercise additional caution. Car accidents involving pedestrians, even at seemingly low speeds, can be devastating, catastrophic, or even deadly for children and adults. Listed below are some very important safety tips for motorists on Halloween.
Halloween Safety Tips for Motorists
- Drive sober
- Slow down, especially in residential areas
- Be on the lookout for children and pedestrians
- Be vigilant at intersections and anywhere children could cross the road
- Enter and exit driveways very carefully
- Broaden your visual scanning to keep an eye out for children on sidewalks and in yards beside the roadway
- Eliminate all distractions behind the wheel
The Scott Law Firm wishes everybody a safe and happy Halloween.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous, distracted, or negligent driver on Halloween or on any other day of the year in or around the Conroe area, call our office at (936) 243-4299 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.
