Halloween should be scary for the costumes, not the consequences of drinking and driving.

The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program hosted a press conference today to launch its annual Halloween Booze It & Lose It enforcement campaign, reminding everyone that if you drink, never drive. 

(As part of the Halloween Booze It & Lose It initiative, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program also announced the Don’t Play With Death media campaign that enforces positive driving behavior.)

Beginning Monday, law enforcement agencies in all 100 counties will step up patrols and sobriety checkpoints to catch and deter impaired drivers before tragedy strikes.

“Driving under the influence is a choice that can have devastating consequences,” said NCGHSP Director Mark Ezzell. “A critical part of celebrating Halloween is planning ahead to ensure the safety of everyone. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver to transport you to and from your festivities.”

According to the state Department of Transportation, hundreds of people lose their lives in preventable impaired driving crashes every year. 

During last year’s Halloween enforcement period, troopers and local police made 588 DWI arrests as part of the statewide effort to reduce impaired-driving deaths.

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles reports that 361 people died in alcohol-related crashes in North Carolina in 2024. 

There were a total of 11,782 alcohol-related crashes on state roads last year. 

“All the education and outreach won’t have a positive impact without people who make a conscious decision to never get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking or using other impairing substances,” said Daniel Johnson, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation. “Had people simply made a decision not to drink and drive, we would have no reason to hold press conferences like this one.”

Friday’s press event was held at the Safety City exhibit at the North Carolina State Fair. 

The interactive exhibit educates fairgoers on driver safety. 

In addition to Ezzell and Johnson, speakers at the event included State Executive Director for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Emily Ferraro and Greensboro Police Corporal Nicholas Walton, an advocate for safe driving.