AAA Northeast: Halloween night is deadliest night of the year for young pedestrians

WESTWOOD, Mass., Oct. 30, 2024 — This Halloween, AAA Northeast is sharing a simple message to drivers who plan to share the road with trick-or-treaters: stay alert, stay sober and be extra attentive to pedestrians of all ages.

AAA Northeast’s analysis of federal crash data shows that Halloween night is the deadliest night of the year for young pedestrians, with a total of 50 pedestrians under age 18 killed in crashes on Oct. 31 between 2008 and 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – nearly double the next deadliest day. And it’s not just young pedestrians facing heightened danger on Halloween: 686 pedestrians of all ages were killed between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 over the same time frame, making those the two deadliest days of the year for pedestrians.

In 2022 alone, 72 vehicle occupants and pedestrians died in crashes between 6 p.m. on Oct. 31 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 1, NHTSA data shows. Thirty-nine percent of those crashes were classified as drunk-driving crashes.

MA ONLY: In Massachusetts, there were 16 pedestrian crashes between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2023, resulting in 13 injuries, three of which were reported as serious, according to the Massachusetts IMPACT Crash Data Portal.

“While Halloween is an exciting time for both young and old to celebrate, the holiday brings heightened danger on our roadways,” said Mark Schieldrop, Senior Spokesperson, AAA Northeast. “Whether you’re out trick-or-treating with children or heading to a costume party with friends, extra vigilance is required, especially after dark, when pedestrians are the most vulnerable.”

AAA Northeast offers drivers these tips:

• Avoid neighborhood shortcuts. If possible, avoid cutting through residential streets where trick-or-treaters are likely to be. 
• Watch for children in the street or walking on medians and curbs. Excited trick-or-treaters, often in dark costumes, may not pay attention to traffic and may cross mid-block or between parked cars. 
• Slow down. A pedestrian is more than twice as likely to be killed if hit by a car traveling 35 mph compared to 25 mph, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. What seems like a small difference – just 10 mph – can be the difference between life and death. 
• Drive sober. Alcohol-impaired drivers make up about one-third of all motor vehicle deaths nationwide, with an average of one drunk driving fatality every 39 minutes in 2022, the last year of available federal data. That year, across the country, 28 people were killed in drunk driving crashes on Halloween night. Always designate a sober driver or find some alternate means of transportation.

 AAA also has tips for parents and children:

• Trick-or-treat together. AAA recommends that parents accompany youngsters until at least age 12. Groups of trick-or-treaters should have flashlights to improve visibility. 
• Review trick-or-treating safety precautions and plan the route ahead of time. Remind children never to cross the street mid-block or between parked cars. 
• Check costumes. Choose disguises that don’t obstruct vision, and when possible, use face paint instead of masks that cover the eyes. Check and adjust the length of costumes to avoid tripping and add reflective material or tape to keep kids visible. 
• Buckle up. If driving trick-or-treaters between neighborhoods, always use seat belts or appropriate car seats, no matter how short the trip. Have children exit and enter the vehicle from the sidewalk rather than from the road, when possible.