AAA Urges Adult Halloween Partygoers to Designate a Sober Driver

Motor club says safe driving to and from parties will help ensure a happy
Halloween

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With nearly one in three
adults planning to attend or host a Halloween party this year, AAA urges
partygoers to plan in advance by designating a sober driver before enjoying
the festivities.

"Halloween has become an increasingly popular occasion for adults to host and
attend parties where alcohol is frequently served. By designating a sober
driver, or by choosing not to drink alcoholic beverages if driving solo, this
popular holiday can be less frightening for everyone," said Jake Nelson,
director, AAA Traffic Safety Research and Advocacy.

According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween parties for adults have
been growing in popularity over the past decade. This year about 30 percent of
all adults will be celebrating with others, and an estimated sixty-two percent
of those ages 18-24 will attend or host a party.

With legions of child pedestrians and their adult escorts in neighborhoods for
trick-or-treating this weekend, and many costume-clad adults taking to the
roads to attend holiday parties, it is imperative that everyone involved in
the celebration think about the importance of traffic safety, AAA said.

Fifty-eight percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. on Halloween night
last year involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood-alcohol content
(BAC) of 0.08 or higher, which is illegal in every state.

To help keep the roadways safe this Halloween weekend, AAA offers partygoers a
few easy tips:

-- Designate a sober driver in advance. If intending to drink alcohol,
plan
ahead to get home safely by selecting a designated driver or ensuring
cab service is available from the party location. Never ride with a
driver who has been drinking.
-- Consider an overnight stay. If attending a party at a friend's home,
consider asking to stay overnight. If participating in festivities in
a
downtown or commercial area, look into hotel accommodations within
walking distance. Many hotels offer special Halloween weekend rates
and
promotions.
-- Do not let impaired guests drive. If hosting a Halloween party, remind
guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver, offer
alcohol-free beverages and do not allow impaired guests to drive.
Prepare a list of local taxi companies in advance to have ready should
guests need to call one.
-- Avoid traveling through residential areas. If possible, try to avoid
cutting through residential areas where trick-or-treaters are likely
to
be present. If providing directions to a party, try not to route
guests
through residential areas unnecessarily.
-- Watch for children in the street. While trick-or-treating, children
may
not pay attention to traffic and might cross mid-block or between
parked
cars. Motorists should scan far ahead when driving in residential
areas,
watch for children and cautiously monitor their actions.

-- Obey the speed limit. Motorists should obey the posted speed limit.
When
driving through residential areas were trick-or-treaters are likely
out,
consider driving five miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.

For additional tips to keep Halloween safe, including tips for parents and
trick-or-treaters, visit AAA.com/PublicAffairs.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA
provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and
automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit,
fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and
security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at
AAA.com.

AAA news releases, high-resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact
sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at AAA.com/news.

Stay connected with AAA on the web via:
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Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.

Christie Hyde
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=64864

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SOURCE AAA

Christie Hyde of AAA, +1-407-444-8003, chyde@national.aaa.com