Halloween is again here, arriving next Tuesday, and another reminder for all to be safe.
Halloween is an especially dangerous time for drivers on streets. The days are getting shorter, and it gets dark much sooner, usually in the midst of trick or treating hours.
Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year due to that low lighting. We recommend everyone do their part to help keep us all safe. Halloween costumes should include elements of reflective tape, glow sticks or flash lights to help those trick or treating be seen. Motorists should do their part by using headlights early and being vigilant, especially at street crossings and before turning into alleys or driveways, and keep their speed slower.
This year, as well, Halloweentown may have a few additional tripping hazards, as portions of downtown Lisbon are torn up for the water main project and covered with gravel, waiting for paving to occur before temperatures get too cold. Be mindful, pedestrians of all ages, of traversing those downtown blocks. The city was working to have those streets paved ahead of Halloweentown, but unexpected water main repairs on Jackson Street delayed the project.
Adults also need to remember that they should be responsible this Halloween season. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, between 2017 and 2021, there were 159 drunk-driving fatalities on Halloween night (6 p.m. Oct. 31 to 5:59 a.m. Nov. 1). Adults between the ages of 21 and 34 had the highest percentage (55%) of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night in 2021. That same night, 17 pedestrians were killed. One point that is critical to remember every night, but especially on Halloween with the holiday’s increase in pedestrians (trick or treaters): you need to do your part to be sober and vigilant when driving.
“No matter what your Halloween festivities include, make sure your party plans account for a sober ride home if you’ll be out drinking,” said regional administrator Susan DeCourcy. “We want our community to have a fun Halloween but, more importantly, a safe Halloween. If you choose to drink alcohol, drink responsibly and do not drive. Even one drink can impair judgment. You should never put yourself or others at risk because you choose to drink and drive. Remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.”
According to NHTSA data, there were 13,384 motor vehicle crash-related deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers in 2021. This represented 31% of all traffic fatalities in the United States for the year and a 14.2% increase from 2020.
Having a designated sober driver or plans on how to get safely home following a party is an option we should all take to make the ride less scary for all motorists on the road.