With Halloween approaching and daylight saving time ending, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is reminding drivers to use extra caution when traveling during evening hours and consider staying off the roads altogether during trick or treating hours. 

"With Halloween falling on a Thursday this year, many people in our County will be celebrating this weekend and over the following week with parties, parades and trick-or-treating," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "I know Halloween brings great excitement for children, as well as increased pedestrian traffic on the roads. I urge motorists to slow down and pay attention to their surroundings. For adults choosing to celebrate with alcohol or marijuana, plan ahead and don’t drive while impaired."

MCDOT offers these safety tips for drivers: 

• Be alert for trick-or-treaters and other pedestrians. 

• Slow down and scan the road. Slower speeds save lives. 

• Watch for young trick-or-treaters. Children may be unaware of traffic and dart into the street unexpectedly.  

• If you see a drunk driver, dial 911 to report it.  

To promote safe and sober driving on Halloween, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s SoberRide®, in partnership with Lyft, will offer a limited number of codes for $15 off a Lyft ride on the Saturday before Halloween, starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, until 4 a.m. on Sunday, Oct 27. The Halloween SoberRide® code will be posted at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, at wrap.org/soberride. The service is valid in Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area. 

"A reminder to set your clocks back an hour on Sunday, Nov. 3 for the return to standard time," said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin.  "The earlier sunsets make this a more dangerous time of year for pedestrians. The incidence of serious and fatal collisions in our County often spikes at this time of year. Additionally, the National Safety Council tells us that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Drivers should be looking for pedestrians and avoid impaired driving and distractions. While some trips are needed, think about leaving before dark or delaying your trip until later in the evening when trick-or-treating is over. I also encourage families to be vigilant by using crosswalks and sidewalks, where available, and to use glowsticks, flashlights and reflective materials on costumes," Conklin said.   

The MCDOT Safe Routes to School program and the Monster Flash, a Flash Bus Rapid Transit bus decorated for Halloween inside and out, will be attending free family-friendly events this weekend, giving out safety prizes including: 

• Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.–noon. Monster Flash at Twinbrook Library's Bilingual Story Hour, Twinbrook Library, 202 Meadow Hall Drive, Rockville.  

• Sunday, Oct. 27, noon–4 p.m. Monster Flash at HalloWheaton, Marion Fryer Town Plaza, 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton. 

For more information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Facebook, and  Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.   

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