HONOLULU (KHON2) — While candy may be the priority for young ones, parents are urged to keep an eye out on the roads this Halloween. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and police are preparing for what could be a deadly night on the streets.
“Halloween is one of the deadliest days of the year for child pedestrians,” explained Makena Young, MADD Hawaii Program Manager. “More children were killed in car crashes, including even being with an impaired driver on Halloween than any other day during the year.”
Officials emphasized impaired drivers can strike anytime, anywhere and on anyone.
“Teenagers, they think different and invincible,” stated Theresa Paulette, MADD Hawaii Victim Services Specialist. “We know that children and teenagers, young adults need to be protected and that’s when we look to adults to be doing that.”
Paulette’s son, who was 15 at the time, was riding his moped when he was killed by a drunk driver.
“The loss of any loved one never goes away. The loss of a child, I mean, it’s forever and ever with you. You have a hole in your heart,” said Paulette.
According to MAAD, in 2022, Hawaii had 116 traffic fatalities, 20% of which were impaired driving-related. In 2023, 50% of all traffic-related deaths on Oahu involved alcohol or drugs.
The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) said distracted driving is another hazard.
“Not paying attention, not looking out ahead in the roadway, especially during Halloween, where we see a lot of children out, you got to expect the unexpected,” stated Major James Slayter. “They’re excited. They may dart out into the roadway. So you just making sure that you have your eyes on the road ahead of you.”
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HPD plans to have more officers out on the roads this Halloween.
“We have a lot of saturation patrols, randomly selected locations will have sobriety checkpoints. We will have an increase in enforcement that evening,” said Major Slayter.