This Halloween, the real scare isn’t the costumes or haunted houses. It’s the spike in distracted driving and speeding that makes the holiday so dangerous for drivers, passengers, and trick-or-treaters — particularly at night.

A new CMT analysis reveals a 3.7% increase in distracted driving compared to other Tuesdays in October. Distraction reaches its highest point during trick-or-treating hours, from 7:00 p.m. through  9:00 p.m.

The spike in distraction dramatically increases crash risk during trick-or-treating on Halloween. With more pedestrians out, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Last year, Halloween fell on a Tuesday. For this analysis, CMT looked at hour-by-hour screen interaction data on Halloween and the surrounding Tuesdays last October. CMT defines screen interaction as when a driver taps on their phone’s screen while the vehicle is traveling over 9 mph. 

Distraction Peaks During Trick-or-Treating Hours

Much like other weekdays, distraction on Halloween isn’t spread evenly throughout the day. We see distraction fluctuate hour by hour. However, on Halloween, distraction rates start creeping up at noon and remain slightly elevated until 5:00 p.m. Distraction surges at the worst possible time — during the most popular trick-or-treating hours from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. — with the average rate elevating to 8.9% higher than other Tuesdays. The highest point of distraction throughout the day is from 7:00 p.m. through 9:00 p.m. when drivers spend 2 minutes and 42 seconds on their phones per hour.

Stay Safe this Halloween: Tips for Drivers & Pedestrians

Halloween’s dangerous driving habits make it one of the most frightful nights of the year for pedestrians. Here are some tips to stay safe:

For Drivers:

• Avoid Distractions: Turn on Do Not Disturb While Driving (DNDWD) and keep your focus on the road.
• Slow Down, especially in neighborhoods with trick-or-treating.
• Stay Vigilant: Watch for pedestrians who may not be paying attention to cars.

For Pedestrians:

• Stay Aware: Avoid using your phone while walking and be alert when crossing streets.
• Be Visible: Wear reflective gear or carry flashlights to ensure drivers can see you.
• Use Crosswalks: Stick to sidewalks and use crosswalks.

This Halloween, let’s work together to make the roads safer for everyone. Put the phone down, slow your speed, and keep an eye out for all the little ghosts and goblins.