KING CITY — With Halloween celebrations approaching, the King City Police Department is reminding residents to designate a sober driver or arrange a safe ride home if they plan to drink.
“Halloween should be full of treats, not tragedies,” said King City Police Sgt. Cody Hughes. “If you plan to drink, make arrangements to use a designated sober driver, public transit or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home. Halloween is spooky enough. Don’t add a real scare to the night.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one person was killed every 44 minutes in a drunk-driving crash nationwide in 2024. In California, 1,311 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes that year.
With seasonal festivities and late-night travel, the risks are heightened on Halloween night, police said.
The department offers the following safety tips for drivers, parents and trick-or-treaters:
Drivers
- Follow posted speed limits. Slow down and watch for increased foot traffic in residential neighborhoods.
- Take extra time looking for trick-or-treaters at intersections and when entering and exiting driveways.
- Never drive distracted or impaired.
- If you intend to drink, have a plan. Use a designated sober driver, public transit, call a taxi or rideshare service, or stay the night.
Parents, caregivers and trick-or-treaters
- Make sure costumes fit properly to prevent trips and falls.
- Be visible. Decorate costumes and bags, buckets or baskets with reflective tape, and use flashlights or glow sticks to make it easier for drivers to see you.
- Walk on sidewalks when available. Avoid darting into the street or crossing between parked cars.
- Stick to familiar, well-lit routes.
- Look both ways before crossing the street.
