Halloween is a time when thousands of trick-or-treaters dressed up in their favorite costumes will be out and about having a good time collecting candy. For other adults, that means heading to local bars, restaurants or house parties to celebrate the holiday.

With so many people hitting the streets Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department wants to remind those participating in events where alcohol may be involved to celebrate Halloween responsibly.

In partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety, the Sheriff’s Department is encouraging everyone to not put yourself and others at risk by choosing to drink and drive. If you plan to drink, plan a sober ride home.

“Halloween should be a fun night for kids and adults,” Sergeant Robert Hill said. “By planning ahead, abiding by the rules of the road and driving sober, everyone can enjoy a safe night out.”

Unfortunately, Halloween night is also when there is an uptick in drunk-driving-related crashes. Between 2012 and 2016, there were 168 drunk-driving deaths on Halloween night.

Forty-four percent of all people killed in crashes on Halloween night were in crashes involving a drunk driver, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Younger drivers (21-34 years old) pose the greatest risk, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night in 2016.

“We want people to enjoy Halloween, but also act responsibly,” Sergeant Robert Hill said. “There are no excuses for driving impaired. There are so many options to get home safely.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also supports efforts from the OTS that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

The Sheriff’s Department offers these tips for drivers, partygoers and parents out with children trick-or-treaters Halloween night:

Walk Safely
1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
2. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
3. Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
4. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
5. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
6. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Trick or Treat With an Adult
1. Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe
1. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
2. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
3. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
4. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween
1. Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
2. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
3. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
4. Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
5. Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
6. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

Whether by bicycle, car, motorcycle or on foot, the Sheriff’s Department encourages everyone Halloween night, and every other night, to go safely.