The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and its partners are reminding everyone to celebrate the Halloween holiday safely, as a driver or a pedestrian.
“It’s trick-or-treat season when ghouls and goblins may be roaming, so drivers can expect to see a rise in the number of walkers along area roadways,” said Mike Tautin, a Community Traffic Safety Project Coordinator for the Highway Safety Network. “Both walkers and drivers need to be vigilant and lookout for one another, especially in low-light conditions.”
According to PennDOT data, there were 358 crashes in Pennsylvania on Halloween last year, resulting in two fatalities and 231 injuries. Twenty-three of those crashes involved a pedestrian and 20 crashes were the result of impaired driving.
“Consuming any amount of drugs or alcohol has the potential to impact functions such as your reaction time, decision-making ability, and coordination. These effects only intensify when drugs and alcohol are taken together,” said Maggie Nunley, a Regional Program Administrator for the Pennsylvania DUI Association. “During a holiday when children and families will be walking the streets, don’t put their lives at risk by making a poor decision to drive while impaired.”
“Partygoers must plan ahead to make sure they know how they’re getting home safely,” Tautin added. “Ride-share services, public transportation, or calling a friend are all better alternatives to getting behind the wheel impaired.”
A statewide Halloween impaired driving enforcement period is underway as of October 10, 2025, and extends through November 1, 2025. During this campaign, state and local law enforcement agencies are participating in activities geared at keeping impaired drivers off the road.
“Pedestrians should remember they have a responsibility to follow the state’s laws when walking on or near the road. They can help drivers see them by wearing bright, reflective clothing,” Tautin said. “Anyone who has a dark-colored costume for Halloween should use items such as reflective tape, a flashlight, clip-on LED lights, or glow-in-the-dark necklaces to increase their visibility.”
PennDOT offers these additional tips for pedestrians to stay safe while trick-or-treating:
Avoid masks that obstruct vision. Consider wearing face paint as an alternative or removing the mask when crossing the street.
Children should always be accompanied by a trusted adult and hold hands when crossing the street.
Cross at crosswalks and signalized intersections. Avoid crossing mid-block or from behind parked cars where drivers are not expecting to encounter pedestrians.
Do not assume drivers see you. Make eye contact with the driver and make sure they are stopping before entering the crosswalk.
Join the conversation to promote pedestrian safety this Halloween on social media by using the hashtag #WalkSafeDriveSafe.
For more information on impaired driving or pedestrian safety, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict1.
Find PennDOT news from the northwest region on X and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT: Saxon Daugherty, sadaughert@pa.gov or 814-678-7095
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