Why a Saturday Halloween could create a deadly mix on the roads this year

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) - A Saturday Halloween could be a deadly mix on the roads this year.

Safety organizations including the Red Cross, AAA, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving are warning drivers and families as young trick-or-treaters share neighborhood streets with weekend party traffic.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by vehicles on Halloween than on any other night of the year.

Adding to the danger is impaired driving. Federal data from TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov shows 201 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes on Halloween night between 2019 and 2024. More than half of those aged 21 to 34 killed in Halloween crashes during that period involved drunk driving, claiming the lives of dozens of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

The calendar adds another risk factor: Data from the National Safety Council shows Saturdays have consistently been the deadliest days of the week on U.S. roads since 2015. Peak trick-or-treating hours fall between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., with sunset arriving just before 6 p.m.

In addition to pedestrian traffic, AAA warns that e-bikes and e-scooters present an emerging concern. Riders are urged to wear helmets, use front and rear lights, add reflective gear, and remember that motorists and children in costumes might not see them after dark — and riders might not see children.