Safe Communities of Wood County announced today that the annual safe driving Halloween National Mobilization is October 31, to November 1, 2017.

Halloween is a time for making memories, not causing nightmares. This Halloween, Safe Communities of Wood County would like to remind everyone to party responsibly and to stay safe – and help keep others safe – by refraining from drunk driving.

Per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 45 percent of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes on Halloween were in crashes involving a drunk driver. Children out trick-or-treating are also at risk, as 36 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes on Halloween involve drunk drivers.

We ask that you follow these simple tips for a safe and happy Halloween:

• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get home safely.
• Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, or another taxi service app, like Uber or Lyft, so you can easily find a safe ride home.
• If you suspect a drunk driver on the road, pull over to a safe location and contact your local law enforcement or call #677 and report it.
• Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and arrange to get your friend home safely.