CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — October marks the start of Pedestrian Safety Month.

The month is part of an awareness campaign by West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) aimed at increasing drivers’ awareness for people walking along the road and encouraging pedestrians to pay attention to their surroundings.

According to the GHSP Director Jack McNeely, 31 West Virginians died from pedestrian involved car accidents last year, making up 12% of all total accident fatalities in the state.

“Every driver of a vehicle is responsible not only for themselves and the folks that are in the vehicle with them, they’re responsible for all the other motorists around on that road, that share that road, and all pedestrians to share that road,” McNeely said. “And they can’t be more important than on Halloween night when we have an abundance of trick or treaters on our roadways.”

The director said the uptick in accidents this time of year is due to distracted or impaired driving as well as season changes, including daylight savings.