As communities nationwide prepare for Halloween celebrations, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) remind all drivers that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. Drivers should act responsibly and commit to sober driving to keep themselves, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users safe. This Halloween, let’s make happy memories, not tragic nightmares. The only thing scarier than zombies and witches loose on the streets is an impaired driver. 

Please feel free to share the following scary stats and with your community:

• In 2023, there were 12,429 people killed in drunk-driving crashes.
• Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs at or above .08 g/dL).
• Although it’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2023 one person was killed every 42 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads.
• The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2023 was 3 times higher at night than during the day.
• Males are more likely than females to be driving drunk when involved in fatal crashes — in 2023, 22% of males were drunk, compared to 16% of females.  

You can view NHTSA’s Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving Campaign here: www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/drunk-driving/buzzed-driving-drunk-driving/halloween. 

Please remind drivers to plan ahead as they will celebrate with alcohol. If they plan to drink, they should make arrangements for a sober driver to take them home.