This Halloween, and Every Day, Remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving

XENIA, OH — Halloween night is celebrated by millions of Americans each year, with eager young children looking forward to an evening of trick-or-treating, and adults working on costumes and their Monster Mash skills. This year’s holiday falls on a Saturday, which means there will likely be more parties than usual — and more drunk drivers on the streets. To help spread the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with Greene County Public Health’s Safe Communities Coalition to remind everyone of the dangers of drunk driving. Halloween poses an especially dangerous threat to pedestrians, as more people are out at night on the hunt for candy. If your night involves alcohol, plan for  a sober ride home. Remember: It’s never safe to drink and drive.

Between 2014 and 2018, there were 145 drunk-driving fatalities on Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31 – 5:59 a.m. November 1). According to NHTSA, 41% of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes on Halloween night from 2014 to 2018 were in crashes involving a drunk driver. Adults between the ages of 21 and 34 had the highest percentage (39%) of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night in 2018.

“With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, we’re certain to see extra parties throughout the weekend, and every single partygoer should plan their sober ride home in advance” said Jillian Drew, Safe Communities Coordinator and Health Educator at Greene County Public Health. “Even one drink can impair judgement. You should never put yourself, or others, at risk because you made the selfish choice to drink and drive. Even one drink can be one too many. Remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.”

Tragically, 36,560 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2018, and 29% (10,511) of those fatalities occurred in crashes during which a driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of .08. Drivers should also keep an eye out for pedestrians — whether they be children trick-ortreating or adults who have had too much to drink. Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly, as lack of attention to their surroundings could put pedestrians at risk of getting hit by a vehicle.

“We want our community to have a fun night out on Halloween, but to also stay safe and make responsible choices,” said Drew. “In today’s world, there are many options available to drivers to help them get home safely if they have been drinking. We expect drivers to refrain from driving after drinking,” she said.  

Nationally, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher — no exceptions. And the costs can be financial, too: If you’re caught drinking and driving, you could face jail time, lose your driver’s license and your vehicle, and pay up to $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, car towing, higher insurance rates, and lost wages.

Party with a Plan
If you plan to head out for a night of Halloween partying, follow these simple tips for a safe and happy
evening:
• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic
beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home
safely.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 1-800-GRAB-DUI or *DUI
• Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements
to get your friend home safely.

Always remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information, visit
https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/drunk-driving/buzzed-driving-drunkdriving/halloween.

For more information on the Greene County Safe Communities Coalition,
call Jillian Drew at 937-374-5683 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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