Any day when people head out to celebrate makes using the roads more dangerous. Halloween is no exception, and it has some particular hazards that other dates do not.
An analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash statistics found that pedestrian accidents increase 43% on the evening of the 31st October when compared to the previous and following week. The report does not mention incidents where pedestrians were not involved, but they are likely to increase as well.
Visibility is key to road safety
Little kids taking to the streets dressed in scary costumes would be less dramatic in the middle of summer when it is light till late, but it might be safer. Low light makes it harder to see, and trick or treating takes place in the dark. Here are some other things that increase the danger:
- Black is hard to spot: Black and blood red are the preferred colors for Halloween costumes. Yet neither aid visibility. Anyone dressed as the Grim Reaper will be a lot harder to spot than someone disguised as a skeleton where the white bones stand out and aid visibility.
- Masks obstruct your vision: The eyeholes on a costume mask are not adjustable, so while they may work for some people, there will be others struggling to see through the slits.
- People are in party mode: Halloween punch often contains strong alcohol yet tastes like it does not. Drivers can drink a few glasses without realizing the alcohol content, making accidents more likely. Even people who are not drinking can get into the party spirit and relax more than usual, paying less attention to the road.
Claiming a witch on a broomstick ran you over is unlikely to get you the compensation you need if injured on the roads this Halloween. Proving that the witch was drunk, distracted or negligent while in charge of a motor vehicle will.
