Keeping Roads Safe On Halloween May Take Planning

The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) wants neighborhoods and roadways to be safe on Halloween night -- but it’s often not. 

Ironically, Halloween – when the nation dares to laugh in the face of fear – is one of the most dangerous nights of the year to be on the road. 

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows 176 people – including 31 pedestrians -- were killed nationwide in crashes involving a drunk driver on Halloween night from 2019 to 2024.  

That’s a special concern this year since Halloween, when children will be trick-or-treating, falls on Saturday evening, when many adults head to bars and parties of their own. 

“Halloween should be about costumes and candy, not tragedy,” Jack McNeely, GHSP Director, said. “If you are going to drink, decide before you go out how you will get home. Hand your keys to a sober friend, call a taxi or rideshare, or stay where you are. Impaired driving is 100 percent preventable, and our officers will be out making sure everyone gets home safely.”  

The GHSP offers the following tips for a safe Halloween: 

• Plan your ride before the party. Designate a sober driver or use a taxi, rideshare, or public transportation. 

• If you are hosting, offer non-alcoholic drinks and make sure every guest leaves with a sober driver. 

• Drivers should slow down in neighborhoods, watch for children in dark costumes, and enter and exit driveways carefully. 

• Pedestrians should carry a flashlight or wear reflective tape, use sidewalks and crosswalks, and stay alert near traffic. 

• If you see a driver you believe is impaired, pull over safely and call 911. 

West Virginia State Police will conduct sobriety checkpoints from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1. 

For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.