AAA Mid-Atlantic issued a safety advisory on Oct. 28, 2025, highlighting elevated risks for pedestrians, impaired drivers and drowsy motorists over Halloween weekend, which coincides with the Nov. 2 end of Daylight Saving Time. The Friday timing of Oct. 31 amplifies concerns in areas like Prince Frederick and Waldorf, where increased foot traffic along routes such as Maryland Route 4 and U.S. Route 301 could strain evening commutes.
The advisory points to national data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing Halloween as one of the year’s top days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Children face more than double the risk of being struck and killed by vehicles on Oct. 31 compared to other days, per Safe Kids Worldwide. Nighttime conditions exacerbate this, with the Federal Highway Administration reporting pedestrian deaths at night three times higher than daytime rates and comprising 76 percent of such fatalities nationwide.
In Maryland, the Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office recorded 2,892 pedestrian crashes in 2023, resulting in 159 deaths — a 20 percent rise from 2022. Distracted driving contributed to over 50,000 crashes that year, causing 216 fatalities, up 8 percent. Impaired drivers factored into 5,455 incidents, with 132 deaths, down nearly 10 percent from the prior year. Virginia’s Division of Motor Vehicles noted 1,747 pedestrian crashes in 2024, up 3 percent from 2023, with 126 fatalities, down 5 percent; distracted driving played a role in 20,758 crashes, killing 90 people, a 41 percent increase.
From 2019 to 2023, NHTSA data indicate 198 people died in alcohol-related crashes on Halloween nights, defined as 6 p.m. Oct. 31 to 5:59 a.m. Nov. 1, with 176 involving drivers at or above a 0.08 blood alcohol concentration. Among those, 30 were pedestrians and 145 drivers or passengers; victims aged 21 to 34 accounted for 54 percent.
Ragina Ali, AAA’s public and government affairs manager for Maryland and Washington, D.C., emphasized vigilance. “Halloween notoriously brings an increased risk of pedestrian crashes, especially involving children,” she said. “It is critical for parents to make trick-or-treaters and their costumes safer and more visible to drivers.” Drivers should slow down, eliminate distractions and scan for children darting across streets, particularly mid-block or between parked cars. Ali added, “Drivers must also do their part by slowing down, eliminating distractions, and watching out for children, as well as have a sober designated driver if drinking is part of your Halloween celebration. A safe Halloween starts with smart choices behind the wheel and on the sidewalk.”
The advisory extends to partygoers and hosts. About 40 percent of Halloween crash deaths involve drunk drivers, per NHTSA. Ali noted, “Halloween is a time to make happy memories, not tragic nightmares. The only thing scarier than zombies and witches loose on the streets is an impaired driver.” Recommendations include arranging sober rides via services, public transit or designated drivers; walking impaired poses risks equivalent to driving under the influence, so pair with a sober companion. Hosts should collect keys from drinking guests, offer nonalcoholic options and coordinate safe transport.
Parents receive guidance on child safety: Select flame-retardant, light-colored costumes; add retro-reflective tape or glow sticks for visibility; ensure masks do not impair vision; supervise children under 12 with an adult or older sibling; limit routes to familiar, well-lit areas; and review traffic rules beforehand. Trick-or-treaters should stick to sidewalks, walk facing traffic if none exist, cross only at corners with signals, travel in groups and carry flashlights without shining them at drivers.
The Nov. 2 Daylight Saving Time shift, occurring at 2 a.m., introduces drowsy driving threats as clocks fall back, disrupting sleep and shortening daylight. Combined with post-Halloween fatigue, this heightens crash potential during evening drives on roads like St. Andrews Church Road in Calvert County or Three Notch Road in St. Mary’s. Studies link time changes to a 6 percent uptick in accidents, particularly in the days following. Ali advised, “The end of Daylight Saving Time will bring shorter days and longer nights. While the extra hour of sleep may be just what many need after Halloween weekend festivities, it brings added dangers on the roadways. AAA urges motorists to slow down, increase following distance, and use headlights to be more visible as late afternoons/evenings will be darker on the roadways.”
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration echoes these measures through its Vests for Visibility program, distributing reflective gear to enhance pedestrian presence during low-light hours. Officials stress buckling up, slowing down, driving sober, focusing on the road and sharing space — principles amplified for Halloween in high-pedestrian zones like Lexington Park’s shopping districts or La Plata’s community events. A 2019 study of NHTSA data found pedestrian fatalities rise 43 percent on Halloween nights, underscoring the need for heightened awareness in suburban settings where children cross from cul-de-sacs to main drags.
Statewide, pedestrian incidents account for under 3 percent of Maryland’s roughly 109,000 annual crashes but nearly 23 percent of traffic deaths, per a 2023 analysis covering 2017-2021. Fall months, including October, see 29 percent of such crashes from 2016-2019, aligning with holiday peaks. In Southern Maryland, where routes like Route 235 near Patuxent River Naval Air Station handle heavy evening volumes, the Maryland State Police plan enhanced patrols for impaired driving through Halloween, a practice dating to at least 2018 enforcement campaigns. Calvert County officials recently reminded residents via social media to watch for children on roadways, medians and curbs, especially in dark attire.
The Highway Safety Office promotes “Share the Road” initiatives during Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month in October, urging motorists to yield and scan intersections — vital in communities like Solomons Island, where narrow paths meet waterways. Past advisories, such as a 2020 “triple threat” alert for Halloween, noted a 7.5 percent drop in pedestrian deaths to 123 in 2019, yet stressed sustained caution. Legal frameworks under Maryland law impose penalties up to $2,000 fines and license suspension for distracted or impaired driving, with enhanced measures for pedestrian-involved incidents.
For drowsy driving post-time change, experts recommend gradual sleep adjustments, avoiding long drives immediately after the shift and pulling over if fatigue sets in — precautions that align with AAA’s push for defensive habits on fog-prone mornings along the Patuxent River. Community events, including Maryland State Police-hosted trunk-or-treats in barracks like Leonardtown, blend fun with safety education, distributing reflective items and rule reminders.
These layered strategies reflect Maryland’s commitment to reducing roadway harms, where 92 percent of pedestrian crashes result in injury or death, per recent state data. As Southern Maryland families plan candy hauls and gatherings, the focus remains on proactive steps to navigate the weekend’s intersecting hazards.
