Thursday, October 28, 2010

Keep the Treat in Trick or Treat-Have a Safe Halloween!

Halloween is a much anticipated time of year for many parents and youth in our communities. As party-going ghosts and goblins celebrate Halloween this weekend, the Kansas Highway Patrol would like to remind motorists that Halloween is one of the deadliest nights of the year involving impaired drivers.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics indicate that in 2008, 58-percent of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

Kansas Highway Patrol troopers will be diligent in their efforts to remove impaired drivers from the roadways this weekend. Below are some tips for enjoying a safe Halloween.

Some tips to help you have a safe, enjoyable Halloween & to keep you free from jail time:
• If you plan to drive, do not drink.
• If you plan to drink, designate a non-drinking driver and give that person your keys before drinking.
• Never ride with a driver who has been drinking.
• Take a list of phone numbers with you for cabs or friends to call for a sober ride home.
• If possible, plan to spend the night at the event.
• If you are throwing a party, provide non-alcoholic alternatives, and never let guests drive drunk.
• Report impaired drivers to your local law enforcement agency.
• Always buckle up and properly secure children in their safety seats, these are your best defense, should you be involved in a crash.

Remember, children will be celebrating Halloween in costumes that are not always reflective, and as they engage in Trick or Treat activities, they do not always look for oncoming vehicles.

We encourage everyone to slow down, and to be cognizant of children and other pedestrians. Enjoy Halloween, but do so safely.