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 Oct. 31, The Clovis Police 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 (OTS), Clovis Police 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,” Officer Bradford 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 (NHTSA). 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,” Bradford said. “There are no excuses for driving impaired. There are so many options to get home safely.”