As Halloween approaches, Florida personal injury attorney Andrew Pickett is urging drivers and parents to take extra precautions in Mississippi, one of the deadliest states for Halloween traffic fatalities.
Mississippi ranks fourth in the nation for Halloween driving deaths, with 7.09 fatalities per one million residents from 2013 to 2023, nearly double the national average of 3.88. The state’s Halloween fatality rate is 82.83% higher than the U.S. average, and five of the top 10 deadliest states for the holiday are in the South, also including Kentucky, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Separate data from a CIT Bank and Harris Poll show that 79% of U.S. adults and 93% of households with children plan to celebrate Halloween this year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that from 2019 to 2023, 198 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes on Halloween night in the U.S., with 176 involving a drunk driver.
Given the risks, Pickett, owner of Melbourne, Florida-based Andrew Pickett Law, offered practical advice for keeping families safe.
For drivers: Slow down in residential areas, especially where children are trick-or-treating, reducing speeds to 15–20 mph, and eliminate distractions by putting phones away, turning down music, and staying fully focused on the road.
For parents of trick-or-treaters: Make children visible with flashlights, glow sticks, or reflective tape on costumes and candy bags. Bright-colored costumes or reflective strips on dark clothing can help drivers see them from a distance. Plan safe routes in well-lit, familiar neighborhoods and supervise children under 12. Teach them to cross streets at crosswalks, look both ways, and make eye contact with drivers.
“Mississippi drivers must take extra precautions this Halloween,” Pickett said. “Reducing speed in residential areas, staying alert, and avoiding distractions can literally save lives in your communities. Local authorities can support these efforts with enhanced street lighting, speed bumps in high-traffic trick-or-treating areas, and increased police patrols.”
Pickett added, “At Andrew Pickett Law, we believe residents deserve to know these risks so they can take proactive steps to protect their families and neighbors. By working together—drivers, parents, and communities—we can bring Mississippi’s numbers down and make Halloween safer for everyone.”
With Halloween just weeks away, experts say planning ahead and staying alert on the road can help ensure a fun and safe night for families across Mississippi.
Information on Halloween fatalities from the research team at personal injury law firm Andrew Pickett Law
