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‘The potential to destroy:’ Invasive pest sparks action from Florida scientists
By Marcus Chen
Halloween safety risks higher for Central Florida trick-or-treaters, drivers, e-ride users
Marcus Chen
Marcus Chen
Managing Editor · St. Paul, MN
Marcus manages the day-to-day editorial workflow across all brands, coordinating coverage assignments and ensuring editorial standards are met. He previously served as city editor at the Pioneer Press and holds a degree in Political Science from Carleton College.
More from Marcus →Managing Editor · Friday, October 30, 2026 at 10:54 AM · 1 min read
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, creating what AAA describes as a potentially dangerous combination of trick-or-treaters, weekend motorists, and e-bike and e-scooter riders sharing neighborhood roads after dark.Central Florida residents say they’re already aware of the risks and hope everyone slows down.Safe Kids Worldwide reports children are more than twice as likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Peak trick-or-treating hours run from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., putting children on neighborhood streets after dark. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 201 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes on Halloween night from 2020 through 2024.“Halloween already demands a driver’s full attention, and having it fall on a Saturday night adds another reason to be especially cautious,” said Brian Ortner, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Expect more people to be out after dark and slow down i
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