Keep it spooky, not deadly: Drive sober this Halloween

UPPER SANDUSKY, Ohio — As local communities prepare for Halloween celebrations, the Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition reminds all drivers that buzzed driving is drunk driving. Drivers responsibly committing to sober driving will keep themselves, passengers, pedestrians and other road users safe. In 2024, one person was killed every 44 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation's roads.

Alcohol-impaired driving is deadly and continues to be a factor in fatal traffic crashes in the United States, including on Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31-5:59 a.m. November 1). From 2020 to 2024, 201 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, which involve at least one driver who had a blood alcohol level of .01 or higher, on the night of Halloween. Of those killed in alcohol-related crashes, 176 were in crashes that involved a drunk driver, with BACs of .08 or higher. More than half (54%) of people aged 21–34 killed in traffic crashes during that same five-year period were in drunk-driving crashes. Victims in those drunk-driving crashes included 31 pedestrians and 144 drivers and passengers.

“An important part of celebrating Halloween is planning to get to your destinations and back home safely,” said Wyandot County Safe Communities Coordinator Callan McMillion. “Those who are going out and intend to drink should ensure they have a designated sober driver or plan a sober ride home. Remember that buzzed driving is drunk driving. If you feel any buzz, you should stay away from the driver's seat.”

Forget the ghosts and zombies, the scariest thing to do on Halloween is to forget to plan for a sober ride home before drinking alcohol or using marijuana. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Waiting to plan a sober ride home can come back to haunt impaired drivers, their passengers, road users, trick-or-treaters, pedestrians and the law enforcement and EMS workers who respond to impaired driving crashes.

Designated drivers should be a real ghoul’s ghouls and honor their commitment to sober driving for themselves, their passengers and everyone on Wyandot County roadways. If the unexpected happens and it is unsafe to drive home or a sober ride falls through, hand the keys or broomstick to a safe, sober driver. Help friends find a safe ride home and take keys away if they plan to drive after drinking or using marijuana. Contact local law enforcement to report impaired drivers.

Make this Halloween spooky good fun by planning ahead, supporting friends and family with making safe driving decisions and always driving 100% sober, because buzzed driving is drunk driving. For more information on impaired driving, visit NHTSA.gov/DrunkDriving.