Forget tainted candy: The scariest thing on Halloween is parked in your driveway
As is the custom, millions of children in the United States will be out in the streets this Halloween to trick-or-treat, decked out in costumes. Also as is custom, adults will fret about the mostly mythical dangers children may face. Once upon a time it was razor blades in apples; this year, it’s rainbow fentanyl […]
Halloween is an exciting time for children across the United States, but it also poses significant dangers, particularly in terms of traffic safety. According to a 2026 analysis of federal crash records, pedestrians under the age of 18 are three times more likely to be struck and killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.
In fact, 45 children were killed while walking on Halloween between 2010 and 2024, a risk that is 10 times higher for children aged 4 to 8 years old. This heightened risk can be attributed to various factors, including increased pedestrian traffic, darker clothing due to costumes, limited visibility from masks, and impaired driving.
Studies have shown that Halloween "may heighten pedestrian traffic risk" due to these factors combined. Additionally, pedestrian fatalities among all ages have reached a 40-year high in the US, making it crucial to address the issue of safety on Halloween and beyond.
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