Halloween is just weeks away — and it won’t be long before you’re attending a costume party or taking the kids trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, Halloween is also a very dangerous time to be out there on the streets.
Whether you’re trying to get home safely from work or take the kids from house to house for candy, you need to be wary of drunk drivers. Based on data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) between 2013 and 2017, more than 40% of traffic wrecks on Halloween night can be attributed to drunk driving.
Is there anything you can do to protect yourself?
The best thing you can do on Halloween (or the weekend surrounding the holiday) is to be particularly vigilant. That means:
- Be sober: If you’re driving, that goes without saying. If you’re walking around with the kids, however, you might be tempted to take a few nips of alcohol to brace yourself against the cold. Skip the spirits until you get home so that you’re more alert.
- Be focused: You cannot allow distractions to put you in danger. If you’re driving, put down your cellphone, turn off the radio and keep your eyes on the road at all times. If you’re walking, have your kids hold hands as they cross the road and make sure everybody looks both ways.
- Be visible: If you’re driving, make sure that your lights are on before your car starts moving, even if it isn’t dusk yet. If you’re walking, make sure that everybody in your crew has bright clothing and reflective candy baskets or flashlights so that they can be seen in the dark.
Halloween is supposed to be full of thrills and chills — but not when you’re behind the wheel of your car. If a drunk driver injures you or your loved one, find out more about your right to compensation for your losses.
