If history is any indication, we could be just a few nights away from a deadly night on the roads. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), many of the nation’s drunk driving crashes occur on Halloween night.
In this issue, the personal injury lawyers with Barber & Associates will talk about why Halloween night has become such a dangerous time to be out and about and share proactive tips drivers and pedestrians can take to reduce their chances of being involved in a drunk driving accident.
Why is Halloween night so dangerous?
A night that has traditionally turned neighborhood blocks into virtual candy stores for youngsters while trick-or-treating has also transformed into a very popular night for adult parties involving alcohol.
The combination of impaired partyers on the road with an increased number of pedestrians is definitely not a good combination.
According to the NHTSA data, 44 percent of all fatalities on Halloween night from 2012-2016 involved a vehicle driver or motorcyclist who is under the influence of alcohol. Over the same period 14 percent of pedestrian deaths involved drunk drivers.
What can I do to protect myself from drunk drivers on Halloween night?
For drivers, it’s important to:
- Avoid using handheld electronic devices while behind the wheel (AAA has confirmed that it takes an average of 27 seconds for a driver who has just put down their cellphone or finished adjusting their stereo or navigation system before becoming fully engaged with driving their vehicle
- If you do see a drunk driver, pull your vehicle over to a safe area, stop, and notify the Alaska Highway Patrol by calling 911
- Take extra steps to slow down in areas where you believe pedestrians are light to be
Pedestrians can reduce their chances of being hit by a drunk driver by:
- Walking on sidewalks where available
- Following the rules of the road at intersections and driveways (even if you have the right of way, be sure traffic has either passed or stopped before stepping onto the road)
- Make yourself visible to motorists by carrying a flashlight and wearing reflective clothing
- Planning for a safe way to get home if you’ll be at a Halloween party (the NHTSA offers a free SafeRider app that will help you find a friend or call a taxi or other ride service to take you home)
If you or someone you know is injured by a drunk driver in Alaska, call the personal injury lawyers at Barber & Associates.
We hope you have a fun and safe Halloween night. If, however, you’re injured by a drunk driver, it’s crucial that you contact the personal injury lawyers here at Barber & Associates.
We’ll aggressively fight on your behalf to secure justice and compensation to cover medical bills and lost wages.
For a free consultation, call us at 907-276-5858 or send an email.