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Highway deaths on Halloween rival those at New Year's
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and PennDOT officials, the number of fatal accidents during Halloween has surpassed those occurring during the New Year's holiday.
And alcohol is to blame for most of these accidents and deaths, they said.
"Right now, it's rivaling New Year's," said Jay Ofsanik, safety press officer for PennDOT's District 12, which includes Westmoreland and Fayette counties.
"It's surprising how many people go to Halloween parties."
Ofsanik said the statistics are especially important this year because Halloween falls on a weekend.
"Certainly when it falls midweek, they don't go out to parties as much because the next day is a workday," Ofsanik said. "But when it's on a weekend, there are a lot more parties on Friday or Saturday, because they don't have a workday the next day."
Between 1999 and 2003, figures for Pennsylvania showed that highway deaths during the Halloween holiday exceeded those occurring at New Year's for three of the five years. And in 2002, there was a tie -- three deaths -- for each holiday season.
In the highway administration's Region III -- Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia -- Halloween fatalities equaled or surpassed New Year's deaths in all but one year between 1999 and 2003. Last year, 16 deaths occurred during the New Year's holiday, and 13 happened during Halloween, according to the statistics.
In this tally, "Halloween" included the weekend of or before Oct. 31. The "New Year's" data includes Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, as well as any previous days occurring on a weekend.
PennDOT was unable to supply similar data for area counties.
In 2003, about two-thirds of all highway fatalities at Halloween were alcohol-related, according to the state transportation agency.
Shawn Houck, PennDOT safety officer for District 10, which includes Indiana County, said he believes people think more police are on patrol during the New Year's holiday than on Halloween. That belief may make travelers more cautious after year-end celebrations, he said.
"It seems that people are recognizing the increased law enforcement on New Year's, but on Halloween people think we're not going to be out there. But we are," Houck said.
State police Cpl. Donald Zimak, the drunken-driving coordinator for Troop B, based in Washington, Pa., said he's seen an increase in Halloween accidents during his 17 years as a trooper.
"A significant number of these are alcohol-related," he added.
Halloween accidents haven't received as much media attention as those occurring at New Year's, Ofsanik said.
"You don't see the kind of coverage on Halloween. We're trying to get that focus," he said.
The safety officials offered the following tips for motorists going to Halloween parties where alcohol will be served:
In addition, authorities urged motorists to remove their Halloween masks or anything else that might obstruct vision while driving. Or, they suggested, put on the costume after you arrive at the party.
Daylight-saving time also starts this weekend. Although most traveling is done during daylight hours, figures nationwide show that 57 percent of traffic deaths occur at night, Ofsanik said.
Trick-or-treaters also should be a concern for drivers, Houck said.
"Everybody thinks we're trying to rain on their parade, but it's all about safety."
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