Sharing the Road on Halloween: Safety for All
While Halloween can be a celebration of fictitious, macabre stories and characters, care is needed from all roadway users and transportation policymakers to ensure that the holiday is not a real-life horror show. The confluence of intoxicated drivers from Halloween parties, high numbers of child pedestrians participating in trick-or-treating, and nighttime conditions lowering visibility creates a scary scenario for everyone on the road, especially vulnerable roadway users.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), there are approximately 7,000 pedestrian deaths each year in the US, with an additional 60,000 pedestrians injured on roadways. Halloween is a particularly dangerous time for pedestrians, especially for young children who are trick-or-treating. Pedestrian fatalities are 43 percent higher on Halloween, with the highest risk around 6 pm in residential neighborhoods.
According to a 2019 study which compared 42 Halloween evenings (from 5 pm to midnight) between 1975 and 2016 to 84 control evenings, pedestrians aged 4 to 8 had a 10-fold increase in fatalities on Halloween evenings. In addition to the lower visibility that comes with any night, on Halloween there is an influx of young pedestrians participating in trick-or-treating activities. Children are already difficult for drivers to see, and this issue is enhanced by costumes and unpredictable behaviors when trick-or-treating. There is also an influx in adults drinking due to Halloween parties.
In 2025 Halloween falls on a Friday which a 2021 study found to be the most dangerous night of the week for pedestrians on the holiday. The study found Saturdays to be the least dangerous night for pedestrians on Halloween. Some cities and advocates have pushed to have trick-or-treating celebrations on Saturdays regardless of where the 31st falls on the calendar, for activities to be earlier in the evening when there is greater visibility, or for more contained activities such as Trunk-or-Treating. However, for many, trick-or-treating will likely continue on neighborhood roadways, on the 31st, and in low visibility, nighttime conditions. Given this, both pedestrians and drivers must be on high alert, following existing rules of the road and exercising extra precautions.
Halloween safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for pedestrians include utilizing crosswalks, obeying road signs and signals, and walking with others. For drivers, NHTSA recommends staying aware of trick-or-treaters, especially keeping an eye out for young trick-or-treaters not following the rules of the road and potentially darting into streets. NHTSA encourages slower speeds to lower risks. NHTSA highlights that half of Halloween crash fatalities in 2023 involved alcohol. Those drinking at Halloween parties should not drive for any reason, and before drinking occurs, groups should select a sober designated driver or schedule a ridesharing service. Party attendees should collect keys from those drinking, and those who see drunk drivers on the road should alert law enforcement.
According to the National Institutes of Health, trick-or-treaters and parents should ensure that costumes do not interfere with the ability of trick-or-treaters to safely walk around and for those on roadways to see trick-or-treaters. Trick-or-treaters should opt for makeup instead of masks to avoid impairing their vision or hearing and should avoid hats or wings that could potentially fall over their eyes. Wearing reflective tape on costumes or using glow sticks can help to make trick-or-treaters more visible to drivers. Drivers must navigate residential neighborhoods with care and attention, especially when entering and exiting driveways, parking spaces, and alleys. Pedestrians must also remain alert, especially when crossing streets and should avoid being on phones. The NIH also recommends that children travel in small groups with adults and have an established safety route along well-lit areas.
Infrastructure designs and policy decisions can also help to promote safer nighttime driving and pedestrian safety on Halloween and throughout the year. According to the Federal Highway Administration’s “Nighttime Visibility for Safety” 76% of pedestrian fatalities occur at night. ITS infrastructure interventions highlighted by FHWA include rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB), thermal imaging cameras, and a gap distance system. Pedestrian focused infrastructure designs and proven countermeasures such as median refuge islands and “smart” crosswalk light can help to enhance safety for vulnerable road users both on Halloween and throughout the year.
According to Vision Zero and the Safe Systems Approach, no fatalities should be acceptable in a transportation system, transportation investments must place safety at the forefront, and fatalities and serious injuries are preventable. Additionally, under the Safe Systems principles, humans are vulnerable, safety is proactive, and responsibility is shared. For this Halloween night, all roadway users must work together to remain vigilant to ensure a safe night for each other. Beyond October 31st and in accordance with the Safe Systems Approach, infrastructure investments and decisions can help to shape safer travel for pedestrians. In addition to being a celebration of sweet treats and spooky stories, Halloween should inspire extra care around transportation safety, especially for vulnerable roadway users.
