Drunk Drivers Can't Hide Behind Halloween Costumes

KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwire - Oct 24, 2011) - As party-going ghosts and goblins celebrate Halloween this October, local traffic safety officials reminds everyone to keep the party off the road.

"There isn't a Halloween costume clever enough to hide an impaired driver who's made the poor decision to get behind the wheel," said Romell Cooks, Regional Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Region 7. "Whether you've had one too many or way too many it is just not worth the risk. Remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving."

Nighttime is an especially dangerous time to be on the road. But Halloween night is one of the deadliest nights of the year for impaired drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 48 percent of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night (6 p.m. Oct. 31 to 5:59 a.m. Nov. 1) in 2009 involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher, which is illegal in every state.

"The scariest parts of Halloween aren't the spooky costumes and scary pranks," said Ms. Cooks. "It's the fact that too often impaired drivers don't plan ahead and end up making the roads scarier than a horror show."

Remember to follow these simple tips for a safe Halloween:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
• If you're impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Use your community's Sober Rides program.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't hesitate to contact local law enforcement.
• And remember, Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

For more information, please visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.