Boo-ze and Driving Don’t Mix. Designate a sober driver this Halloween.

Boo-ze and Driving Don't Mix. Designate a sober driver this Halloween.

Pomona, Calif. - This October 31, The Pomona Police Department is reminding those who are celebrating this spooky season to have a designated sober driver or plan for a sober ride home.

Halloween should be full of treats, not tragedies, 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 (NHTSA), in 2024, one person was killed every 44 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation's roads. In that same year, 1,311 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities occurred on California roads. Because of the seasonal festivities and late-night travels, those risks are heightened on Halloween night.

The Pomona Police Department offers the following tips to be as safe as possible and share the road safely:

Drivers

· Follow the posted speed limit. Slow down and watch out for more 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 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.

The Pomona Police Department will have additional officers on patrol from 6:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.