Despite national statistics showing an increase in traffic fatalities when Halloween falls on a weekend, local police aren't particularly worried about today's holiday.
Motor vehicle fatalities rise an average of 30 percent when Halloween falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a AAA news release.
Gainesville Police spokeswoman Summer Hallett said she does not expect Halloween traffic accidents to compare to game day weekends.
Although GPD officers would be on the roads for Halloween, Hallett said there would not be as many additional officers as there would be for a football game.
Alachua County Sheriff's Office spokesman Art Forgey said he didn't know if fatalities increased locally but said residents tend to celebrate the holiday longer when Halloween falls on a weekend.
The sheriff's office will be increasing patrols to help deal with holiday pedestrians and those who break the law, Forgey said.
The AAA release suggests drivers avoid problems by staying away from residential areas with large amounts of trick-or-treaters and choosing a designated driver.
People throwing parties could also keep a list of cab drivers on hand and offer alternatives to alcohol, it stated.
AAA Auto Club South and Budweiser will also offer a free program from today to Sunday providing a confidential ride-and-tow to discourage drunken drivers from getting on the road.
Drivers should call 1-800-AAA-HELP to take advantage of the Tow to Go program, which started in 1998.
