Halloween is the ultimate pedestrian holiday (coinciding with National Pedestrian Safety Month), with kids and their adults donning fun costumes to trick-or-treat. But the deadliest monster in your neighborhood doesn’t need a costume: it’s your car!

Circulate San Diego is issuing a spooky reminder urging drivers to be extra cautious as more children are out in the neighborhood looking for treats.

“Driving under the influence turns an eerie night into a real-life nightmare,” said Carlisle Dockery, Planning Director at Circulate San Diego. “If your night involves drinks at a Halloween party, make sure to plan for a sober ride home. Even one drink can impair judgment.”

Halloween night can be particularly dangerous on our nation’s roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), adults aged 21 to 34 had the highest percentage (54%) of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night from 2018 to 2022.

Whether you’re celebrating Halloween or Día de los Muertos, Circulate San Diego offers the following tips for families to stay safe and share the road responsibly:

• Remember that cars don’t need costumes because they are already the deadliest monsters in our community.
• Avoid driving if possible—use the trolley or bus, bike, or take a cab!
• Slow down and be aware of increased foot traffic in residential areas.
• Take extra time to look for trick-or-treaters at intersections and when entering or exiting driveways.
• Never drive distracted or impaired.
• If you’re heading to a local bar, restaurant, or house party and plan to drink, bring a designated sober driver, use public transit or a ride-hailing service, or stay the night.
• Stick to familiar, well-lit routes.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.