With Halloween quickly approaching, tons of Kentucky kids and tiny Tennesseans will be out trick-or-treating Thursday evening. However, a new study revealed this holiday tradition is more dangerous in these two states than many other states in the U.S.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — With Halloween quickly approaching, tons of Kentucky kids and tiny Tennesseans will be out trick-or-treating Thursday evening. However, a new study revealed this holiday tradition is more dangerous in these two states than many other states in the U.S.
The legal team at a Dallas-based personal injury law firm, The Barber Law Firm, analyzed data from the Department of Transportation’s Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST) about fatal Halloween crashes from 2013 to 2022.
According to a public relations agency representing the law firm, Kentucky is the second deadliest state for Halloween, with 8.43 deaths in crashes per one million residents, which is 136.38% higher than the U.S. average of 3.57 deaths.
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Meanwhile, Tennessee was listed as the 10th deadliest state for the holiday, reporting 5.21 fatalities from crashes per one million residents, which is 46.02% higher than the national average.
The study also shows several other states from the South are included in the top 10 for Halloween fatalities, highlighting regional safety concerns.
The full list of the 10 deadliest states for Halloween is included below:
RankStateFatal crashes per one million residentsPercentage above U.S. average1South Dakota9.02152.92%2Kentucky8.43136.38%3Mississippi6.7589.32%4Arkansas6.6486.17%5Oklahoma6.3176.99%6South Carolina6.2575.25%7Nebraska5.6157.16%8Montana5.5355.12%9Alaska5.4552.89%10Tennessee5.2146.02%(Source: The Barber Law Firm via Story Pulse)
The founder and principal attorney of The Barber Law Firm, Kris Barber, provided the following statement about the results of the study:
Halloween should be a time for fun, excitement, and community joy, not accidents and mishaps. As the festivities approach, it’s crucial to prioritize road safety to ensure a joyful occasion for all.
To improve safety, drivers should adopt responsible habits such as reducing speed, staying alert, and avoiding distractions, particularly in residential areas with trick-or-treaters. Local authorities can support these efforts by enhancing street lighting, installing speed bumps, and increasing police patrols to deter reckless driving.
This is the perfect time to raise awareness about essential safety measures. By taking proactive steps, we can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and make Halloween a safe and pleasant experience for everyone.
Between the increased pedestrian activity, often in less lighting, and the tendency of kids to cross streets without paying attention, children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year, according to nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide.
In order to protect trick-or-treaters, adults are encouraged to be extra cautious, especially between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For example, motorists should drive slowly, keep headlights on, and remain alert in residential areas to avoid hitting costumed kids.
Meanwhile, parents should join children under 12 for trick-or-treating; make sure they have glow sticks, flashlights, or reflective material on costumes or bags so they’re more visible; and remind them to cross the street at corners or crosswalks.
For more Halloween safety tips, follow this link.