Halloween is a time of year for spooky story telling, dressing up as your favorite character and making delicious treats to pass out to trick-or-treaters. There is always a reminder to watch out for razor blades, stranger danger or even drugs that can be found in candy wrappers. Some people worry about superstitions like black cats but it’s important to see the true danger on Halloween night deals mostly with motor vehicles.
According to the University of Michigan News Service, children under 15 are 4.5 times more likely to die in a car crash on Halloween than any other evening of the year, with most deaths occurring between 4 PM and 8 PM – prime trick-or-treating time. Though this year Halloween falls on a Sunday, a lot of people will be out and about on Friday and Saturday celebrating early. Please be extra weary and cautious the entire weekend to avoid any unnecessary accidents.
This time of the year, or any time there is a major Holiday, the drunk driver rates are high. Reuters reports that 58% percent of all Halloween traffic fatalities in the U.S. in 2008 involved a driver with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher. Remember, these people will be out on the road the same time children will be out there trick-or-treating.
It is crucial for the safety of yourself and loved ones that you travel with high caution, care, be alert and do not drive under the influence. It’s not worth the life of another person, yourself or a child. A car accident is a terrible way to bring down a weekend full of excitement for so many and it’s the last thing anyone would want to happen.
From everyone here at the Law Center For Car Accident Injuries, have a Happy Halloween weekend and be safe.