Scary Facts About DUI on Halloween
You may think that the most frightening experiences you’ll have on Halloween will come the way of costumes and pranks. The truth is that it’s drunk drivers you have to be most concerned with. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween is one of the deadliest nights to be on the road. The administration looked at roadway fatalities over a span of five years on that night, 2009 to 2013, and discovered that 43 percent involved alcohol.
Even though Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year, many adults will still hold parties on a work night, which could lead to a greater number of drunk drivers on the roads. Here are some facts to be aware of this holiday weekend.
1. Pedestrians Versus Vehicles
Halloween night is particularly dangerous for trick-or-treaters. A young child is more likely to be struck by a vehicle on Halloween than at any other time of year. In fact, children are twice as likely to be struck on Halloween when compared to the other 364 days.
2. Pedestrians Versus Drunk Drivers
A study has shown that, in 2013, 26 percent of those people hit by cars and killed on Halloween were hit by drunk drivers. This means that a quarter of all people struck and killed were hit because someone was impaired.
3. Vehicle Accidents and DUI
As has been mentioned, approximately 43 percent of all crashes that occur on Halloween are alcohol related. This is a higher percentage than any other time of year, making Halloween particularly dangerous.
Get Home Safely
If you are 21 or over, there is nothing that says you can’t partake in one or more alcoholic beverages on Halloween. If you do, however, you’ve got to do so safely. Drinking and driving is never a good idea, and can prove deadly.
If you drink, arrange for a sober ride home. Call a cab, utilize Uber or take public transportation. If you are going out with a group of friends, see if one is willing to act as the designated driver. If you are hosting a party, arrange for rides home for guests that you believe have had one too many.
For parents of trick-or-treaters, consider your costume options carefully. If you can, make sure at least part of your child’s costume is brightly colored. In addition, make sure young children never trick-and-treat alone, as they can be hard to see by even the most sober driver. If your kids are crossing the road, have them walk beside you.
Expect law enforcement to be out in greater numbers this Halloween, and behave accordingly. If you are arrested for DUI, you can reasonably expect that you will experience lasting consequences. Worse, you may unintentionally injure or kill someone.
If you are arrested for driving under the influence in DeKalb County this Halloween weekend, you need the experience of a local criminal defense attorney on your side. Call our office to schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation and learn more about your legal rights. We understand the predicament you are in, and we will put our years of experience to work defending your legal rights. Call today or browse our website for more information about our firm.
