Georgia officials urge safety first on Halloween

ATLANTA — No matter how good the costume, a motorist can’t disguise drunk driving.

And with kids taking to the streets in neighborhoods in search of treats on Tuesday evening, DUI driving can have especially tragic consequences.

That why the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is urging those who plan to include alcoholic beverages in their Halloween celebration to make plans to get home safely, in turn improving safety for young pedestrians and accompanying adults.

“It is imperative that Halloween partygoers make a plan ahead of time for a sober ride home,” GOHS Director Harris Blackwood said. “These days, there are far too many options for a sober ride with taxis, public transportation, smartphone apps and friends as designated drivers.

“And with costumed little ones running from house to house for sugary treats, there are far too many consequences if you don’t get a sober ride.”

In 2015, 55 people in the United States were killed in drunk driving-related crashes on Halloween. Eight of those were pedestrian deaths. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data show 45 percent of all people killed in traffic crashes on Halloween night 2011-15 were in crashes involving a drunk driver.

Children out trick-or-treating and the parents accompanying them are also at risk, with 36 percent of fatal Halloween night pedestrian crashes in the same time period involving drunk drivers.

Younger drivers, GOHS officials say, are most at risk. The 21-34 age group accounted for 64 percent of Halloween night fatalities in nationwide drunk-driving-related crashes in 2015.

GOHS officials say it’s also important for parents and their trick-or-treaters to safely prepare for their excursions through neighborhoods.

If walking, everyone should stay on sidewalks and avoid walking in the roadway. If no sidewalks are available, GOHS officials say, they should walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic. Pedestrians also should look both ways before crossing the street and do so only at crosswalks and street corners, never between parked vehicles or mid-block.

“Costumes and treat buckets should also include reflective elements to make trick-or-treaters more visible to motorists,” Blackwood said. “It is also a good idea to carry a flashlight with fresh batteries so this year’s crop of superheroes, witches, pirates and princesses can safely find their way.”

GOHS has some tips to make Halloween less tricky for trick-or-treaters and parents:

— Parents should accompany trick-or-treaters under the age of 12;

— Review trick-or-treating safety precautions and plan a route ahead of time;

— Look both ways before crossing the street and use crosswalks as much as possible;

— Buckle up if driving trick-or-treaters between houses and use appropriate car seats.

Motorist tips also are in the cauldron:

— Plan a safe way home before you go out. For example, arrange for a sober driver, program taxi numbers into your phone or download the Drive Sober, Georgia app to have a list of ride programs at your fingertips;

— Avoid neighborhood shortcuts and residential streets where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present;

— Watch for children in the street. Their size means they can be hidden by other cars and they may dart into the street or otherwise avoid crosswalks to get quickly to the next house;

— Slow down.