According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent crash figures, an estimated 16,886 police-reported crashes occurred every day across the country in 2024. Daily crash totals can vary when normal travel patterns and road conditions change, including during periods of heavier traffic, increased pedestrian activity, alcohol consumption, nighttime travel, adverse weather, road construction, and large public events. Halloween often brings several of these conditions together, with trick-or-treating activity, evening travel, costume parties, and alcohol consumption altering how people move through streets and neighborhoods.
At Monge & Associates, we believe nearly all crashes are preventable. By raising awareness of crash risks, we hope to remind people that avoiding dangerous behavior can help keep everyone safe. To better understand how crash patterns shift nationwide on Halloween, we partnered with 1Point21 Interactive to analyze three years (2022–2024) of data from a national sample of crashes created from eight states’ records, including two from each U.S. region.
Since nationwide public crash records are only available at the fatal-crash level, representing only a small fraction of all crashes, this compilation of publicly available state-level data offers a proxy for examining broader Halloween crash trends across the United States.
This study explores the percent change in crashes occurring during the Halloween celebration period, from midnight on October 31 to 3 a.m. on November 1, compared with crashes occurring on an average (or typical day). The average day is based on the mean number of crashes recorded on the same weekday throughout the corresponding year. We also look at the distribution of crashes by hour of day during Halloween.
Read on to learn more.
Key Findings
- Crashes on Halloween increased by an average of approximately 18% across the three most recent years of available crash data (2022–2024).
- The increase peaked in 2023, with 21.8% more crashes over Halloween (a Tuesday) than an average Tuesday that year.
- The Midwest recorded the largest regional increase across the study period, with Halloween crashes rising 28.4% above typical comparable weekdays.
- Alcohol-related crashes on Halloween increased by 33% on average. 2024 saw the highest increase at 40%.
Halloween vs. Average Day
An average day (or a typical day) is defined as the mean number of crashes recorded on all days of the year that fell on the same weekday as Halloween. Halloween fell on a Monday in 2022, a Tuesday in 2023, and a Thursday in 2024. An example comparison would be 2024’s Halloween crashes versus the daily average of all other Thursday crashes that year.
For each year analyzed, Halloween crashes exceeded those of a typical day by an average increase of approximately 18%. Crash counts increased by 15.3% in 2022, 21.8% in 2023, and 15.5% in 2024.
Injuries increased slightly more, averaging 20% above the typical day’s baseline.
Halloween Crashes by U.S. Region
The heatmap below shows the percentage change in crashes on Halloween compared with a typical day, combining all three years (2022–2024) of data.
Crashes rose on Halloween in every region, with the highest increase occurring in the Midwest (28.4%). Crashes increased by 18.9% on Halloween in the West, 17.9% in the South, and 8% in the Northeast.
Alcohol-Related Crashes on Halloween
Given the number of celebrations that are thrown for Halloween, which often include drinks, more people may be drinking and driving during this time. The chart below examines the number of alcohol-related crashes on Halloween compared to a typical day.
Alcohol-related crashes on Halloween increased by 33%, on average, across the three years analyzed, with the largest increase in 2024 (40%).
Halloween Crashes by Time of Day
The chart below shows the distribution of crashes by hour of day on Halloween compared to a typical day. Both 24-hour periods are extended to 3 a.m. the next day to account for late-night driving.
A large spike was observed in the morning, with crashes increasing by 47.3% above typical at 6 a.m and the largest absolute difference occurring at 7 a.m., with 126.7 more crashes on average. The hours between 6 and 8 a.m. coincide with the morning commute, when more vehicles are on the road, and higher traffic volumes may increase crash risk, as reflected in the typical crash pattern. However, fatigue, distraction, or other effects related to holiday celebrations may also be among the factors contributing to the increase in crashes on Halloween morning.
The second spike occurs in the late afternoon, similarly coinciding with rides home from work and school. Trick-or-treating generally begins around 6 p.m., but some families, especially those with younger children, may head out as early as around 4 or 5 p.m. The overlap of evening traffic with families walking through neighborhoods may help explain why crashes begin to rise before the peak trick-or-treating period.
Risk doesn’t end when trick-or-treating does; crashes remain elevated into the next day on November 1, with the largest percentage increase occurring at 2 a.m., with a 56.8% rise, followed by 3 a.m. with a 52.7% rise.
Halloween Road Safety
Halloween should be fun and safe for families and communities. If you’re driving in the late afternoon or evening, remember that Halloween can bring more pedestrians into neighborhoods and make extra caution important. Keep an eye out at intersections and crosswalks, yield to pedestrians, and slow down in residential areas. Stay alert, avoid distractions, and never drink and drive. If celebrations include alcohol, use a rideshare service, take public transit, or designate a sober driver.
Halloween Pedestrian Safety and Trick-or-Treating Tips
Trick-or-treaters and partygoers on foot are the most vulnerable people on the road on Halloween night. Dark costumes, limited visibility, and distraction raise the risk of a pedestrian accident, but a few simple habits can lower it.
Be Seen: Visibility Tips for Trick-or-Treaters
Visibility is the first line of defense. Add reflective tape or stickers to costumes, treat bags, strollers, and wagons, and carry a flashlight or wear glow sticks or LED accessories so drivers can spot you from a distance. Light or bright colors also help whenever the costume allows.
Costume Safety
Costumes should never get in the way of seeing or moving. Face paint or makeup is safer than a mask that limits peripheral vision, and if a mask is necessary, make sure the eye holes are large enough to see clearly. Choose costumes that fit well, since long or loose hems, capes, and oversized shoes create tripping hazards, and skip accessories that block sight or limit arm movement.
Crossing the Street Safely
Stick to sidewalks whenever possible. If there isn’t one, walk facing traffic as far to the left as you can. Cross at corners, crosswalks, and intersections rather than between parked cars or mid-block, and always stop, look left, right, and left again, and make eye contact with drivers before stepping out. Walk instead of running, and keep phones and headphones down while crossing.
Supervision and Route Planning
Younger children should be accompanied by an adult. For older kids heading out in groups, set clear rules like a planned route and a check-in time. Stick to well-lit streets and houses with porch lights on, and cross the street once at a safe crossing point rather than zigzagging between houses.
Adults Walking Home from Halloween Parties
Pedestrian risk doesn’t end when trick-or-treating does. Our data shows crashes remain elevated in the early morning hours after Halloween. If you’re on foot after a party, wear something reflective, stay off the roadway, and don’t walk home impaired. A rideshare or sober ride is the safer choice.
Every driver, parent, and partygoer plays a part. Slowing down, staying visible, and planning a sober ride home can help keep Halloween night fun and safe for everyone. If you or a loved one was hurt in a Halloween crash, contact Monge & Associates for a free consultation.
Methodology
We analyzed three years of crash data from 2022 through 2024 from the following states: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, Kentucky, California, Colorado, Illinois, and Iowa. Two states with publicly available crash records were chosen from each of the four U.S. regions to create a sample covering the country.
To analyze how crash patterns differ on Halloween, we compared Halloween crash totals to a baseline. The baseline was the average number of crashes recorded on the same weekday during the corresponding year, excluding Halloween. Halloween was on a Monday in 2022, Tuesday in 2023, and Thursday in 2024. Moreover, the Halloween period was extended to include Halloween day through 3 a.m. on November 1 to capture late-night driving patterns. We applied the same time window to each comparison period.