State Crash Data Now Available to Public Through Open Data Portal

State Crash Data Now Available to Public Through Open Data Portal

 

Searching Delaware crash data is now as easy and convenient as logging on to the State’s Open Data Portal.

“The crash data portal helps us give drivers the information they want and it is our hope that with this information, our citizens will be equipped to make safer decisions behind the wheel. We know an informed driver is a safer driver,” said Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen, Jr.

While the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) is responsible for statewide crash data collection and dissemination, this project resulted from collaboration and partnership with several state agencies including the Office of Highway Safety, Delaware State Police, DelDOT, Dept. of Technology and Information, DelJIS and the Delaware Police Chiefs Council.

“Delaware continues to have far too many crashes in our state and sadly we had the most road fatalities in more than 30 years last year,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “This new information portal helps us all continue to work toward making our roads safer.”

Making crash data available through the portal allows the public to engage in interactive analysis and data exploration. Those evaluating or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites or hazardous roadway conditions will find the dashboard useful as it is updated monthly and contains crashes that occurred since 2009 through six months ago.

Through the portal, users can filter crash data and visualize the data in charts, graphs and maps. In addition, applied filters are reflected in dashboard elements. An embedded table within the dashboard allows users to export the data, as filter or the entire dataset.

Work on this project began more than three years ago when Sen. Stephanie Hansen sponsored a bill to expand the Department’s ability to publicly share crash data.

A crash report is a summary of information collected about a collision and is filled out by a Delaware law enforcement officer who is investigating the crash.

“The Office of Highway Safety is pleased to be a part of the collaboration with our traffic safety partners to make crash data accessible to the public through the Open Data Portal,” said Kimberly Chesser, Director of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “The portal is another great tool that is vital to the Office of Highway Safety’s mission of identifying and addressing traffic safety priorities. Additionally, the portal will enhance our partnerships with community organizations, businesses and sub-grantee participants who share our mission in traffic safety.”

Additional crash information and data is made available in the Office of Highway Safety’s annual reports (https://ohs.delaware.gov/reports.shtml), the Office of Highway Safety’s annual safety plan (https://ohs.delaware.gov/reports.shtml), and the Delaware State Police Traffic Statistical Reports  (https://dsp.delaware.gov/reports/).

 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Arshon Howard
Cell: (302) 922-0186
Arshon.Howard@delaware.gov


UPDATED: DTI To Hold Public Meetings On Broadband Funding

DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Department of Technology and Information’s (DTI) Broadband Office will host public meetings in early March to share information about major broadband initiatives happening across the state.  Funding for both infrastructure and digital equity will be made available to Delaware through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Delaware is expected to receive approximately $100 million for these purposes.

The public is encouraged to attend one of the following sessions in their area or join online:

Attendees will be asked to participate in a brief survey about their broadband needs and experiences.

More information on the Delaware Broadband Strategy is available at https://broadband.delaware.gov/pages/index.shtml?dc=DelawareBroadbandStrategy. Additional information on the broadband public meetings can be found on the State Public Meeting calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/#/meeting/74851.

Information on the NTIA BEAD program can be found at https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/resources/grant-programs/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-bead-program.

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About the Delaware Department of Technology and Information

The Department of Technology and Information (DTI) is the state’s central IT organization, chartered to deliver core services to other state organizations and exercise governance over the technology direction and investments of the state. DTI provides enterprise services that enable other organizations to effectively fulfill their missions.

Media Contact

Christina Dirksen, Strategic Communications Manager, DTI
(302) 739-9736 w Christina.Dirksen@state.de.us


Governor Carney Announces DE’s Participation in CyberStart America and Cyber FastTrack

FOR IMMEDIATE  RELEASE
October 17, 2022

Program Contact:
Claudette Wus, Senior Disaster Recovery Specialist, DTI
(302) 739-9636
Claudette.Wus@delaware.gov

Media Contact:
Christina Dirksen, Strategic Communications Manager, DTI
(302) 739-9736
Christina.Dirksen@state.de.us

 

 

Governor Carney Announces DE’s Participation in CyberStart America and Cyber FastTrack
CyberStart America and Cyber FastTrack offer free, fun games for high school and college students to discover their talent and enter the field of cybersecurity. Registration is open now!

 

Dover, Delaware — Delaware Governor John Carney and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Jason Clarke have announced that high school and college students across the First State can now register for CyberStart America and Cyber FastTrack.  This innovative online program, sponsored by the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation and the SANS Institute, allows participants to explore their potential cybersecurity talent. Building on the success of previous years’ National Cyber Scholarship Competitions, CyberStart America is open to all high school students. Delaware students in grades nine through twelve will have the chance to win prizes and recognition for their schools, as well as scholarships for advanced training. Cyber FastTrack is available for college students, where they too will have a chance to win scholarship awards and recognition for excellent performance. Nearly 1,400 Delaware students have participated in these programs over the past 7 years.

“One of the most important challenges for us is developing the cybersecurity workforce and finding talent. That’s why the programs that DTI and other partners are participating in are so important,” said Governor Carney. “Recently, I was able to meet some of these talented, next generation of cyber experts from last year’s CyberStart and Cyber FastTrack programs. With these programs, they have a strong foundation to pursue a cyber career.”

The CyberStart and Cyber FastTrack programs both offer a series of online challenges that allow participants to act as cyber protection agents solving cybersecurity-related puzzles and exploring related topics such as code-breaking, programming, networking, and digital forensics. For the high school level, the program can be assigned as part of homework, form the basis of an extracurricular club, or students can simply try it on their own. Participating students and their teachers do not need knowledge or experience in information technology or cybersecurity to take part. Everything they need can be learned in the game; however, support and communication about the program to students are needed. Both programs are free for schools and students. New this year will be a high school cyber presentation provided by Chief Security Officer Solomon Adote on October 27th that will include information on cyber careers as well as a demo of the CyberStart America platform. High School students should contact their teacher for more information.

Students who do well in the program can earn access to scholarships and advanced training. The 2021-22 session had 352 Delaware high school student participants in CyberStart America — three of whom earned Finalist level and nine that reached the Scholar level — while 133 Delaware college students participated in Cyber FastTrack, with one reaching the Finalist level and eight in the Scholar bracket. These students were recognized at the Secure Delaware Workshop on October 4, 2022, which coincided with registration opening of the 2022-23 session of both CyberStart America and Cyber FastTrack.

“I was introduced to “CyberStart American early Freshman year. I thoroughly enjoyed completing the challenges in the program, as they are presented in a beginner-friendly, non-intimidating manner. As I completed more and more challenges, I found that I could apply my knowledge in coding, forensics, cryptography, hashing, and the Linux command line that I’ve acquired from my experiences in Cyberpatriot and summer programs,” said Padua student Trisha Srikanth.  “Further, framing the challenges as hypothetical real-world situations certainly enlivened a very technical field and made the challenges more dynamic and engaging. In our increasingly digitized society, it is important that there are enough cybersecurity professionals to protect American devices and systems. Thus, it is wonderful that CyberStart is making cybersecurity more accessible to young students like me, sparking our passion for pursuing this field. Lastly, I am very grateful to DTI, our governor, and my community at Padua for all of their support and encouragement.”

“Cyber FastTrack helped me quickly learn about a broad range of topics in cybersecurity,” said Wilmington University student Richard Eaton. “Identification as a National Cyber Scholar provided me additional SANS Foundations training and certification that was some of the best, most engaging online training I’ve ever taken. It also afforded me the opportunity to be recognized in the field and establish meaningful connections with local cybersecurity leaders that have already provided job opportunities. I’m so grateful for the experience.”

“There is no question that it has been an eventful year on the cyber security front.  Everything from major breaches to new vulnerabilities, and an even greater focus on protecting critical infrastructure and third-party/supply chain compromises. It’s important to identify the next generation of cyber defenders to protect against these attacks that happen every minute of each day.  With programs like these, participants can pursue their passion in cybersecurity to help in this fight,” said CIO Jason Clarke.

To learn more about CyberStart America or to register, visit cyberstartamerica.org. College students can view the program details and register to participate at cyber-fasttrack.org.

 

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About the Delaware Department of Technology and Information

The Department of Technology and Information (DTI) is the state’s central IT organization, chartered to deliver core services to other state organizations and exercise governance over the technology direction and investments of the state. DTI provides enterprise services that enable other organizations to effectively fulfill their missions. DTI.delaware.gov

About CyberStart America

CyberStart America and Cyber FastTrack are free national programs for high school and college-level students, aiming to uncover hidden cyber talents, and to identify and develop the next generation of cyber superstars. The immersive gamified learning platforms can take students from zero cybersecurity knowledge to possessing the skills necessary to compete in a national-level Capture the Flag challenge in a matter of weeks. Students new to the field with a strong aptitude, as well as students with existing interest in the field, can use the platform to train and qualify for the National Cyber Scholarship Competition, allowing them to compete for life-changing college scholarship opportunities.

 

About The National Cyber Scholarship Foundation (NCSF)

The National Cyber Scholarship Foundation (NCSF) is a national nonprofit whose mission is to identify, nurture and empower the next generation of cybersecurity experts and eliminate the cybersecurity skills gap in the United States. NCSF aims to support the entry of thousands of highly talented students to the cybersecurity industry by providing enrichment opportunities, world-class training, and scholarships to fund advanced skills training.

 


October Declared Delaware Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October Declared Delaware Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Register for Activities Statewide throughout October 2022

Dover, Del. — With recent global breaches and geopolitical cyber-attacks on the rise, Governor John Carney declared October as Delaware Cybersecurity Awareness Month to highlight the importance of education for citizens and businesses. With our current physical world intertwined with the digital world, basic cyber awareness is no longer an option to fight off bad actors. The disruption of access to financial, utility, or consumer services are no longer simply an inconvenience, but a risk for individuals’ privacy to be exposed and identities stolen.  As a community, we must all be vigilant to protect our own and each other’s digital information.  The Delaware Department of Technology and Information, along with its partners, have developed month-long activities for all ages to bring awareness of cyber threats, protection methods, and response actions. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an opportunity to bring more focus and understanding of cybersecurity at different levels from basic to advanced.  In the month of October, ALL Delaware citizens, students, business owners, and employees can participate in various events being offered throughout the State.  These include presentations, educational workshops for seniors, on-site expert events, and conferences. As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, DTI is also hosting our 13th Annual Secure Delaware workshop to provide training for citizens, businesses, students, and government employees. This free, in-person event will be held Tuesday, October 4th from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the University of Delaware’s Clayton Hall. All activities and information on how to register can be found on DTI’s award-winning cyber website DigiKnow.Delaware.gov.

“It is more important now than ever for everyone to educate themselves on how to stay safe online and protect your data,” said Governor Carney. “To highlight the importance of education and awareness I have proclaimed October as Delaware Cybersecurity Awareness Month. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the free events available to safeguard your information and help keep Delaware secure.”

“Bad actors are working 24/7 to deceive people into providing sensitive information or gain access to critical data. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime generates a profit of over $6 trillion and is expected to grow to $10.5 trillion by 2025,” said CIO Jason Clarke. “With Governor Carney’s support, DTI has planned multiple events throughout the State during the month of October, including our annual Secure Delaware Workshop scheduled for October 4th. This is the premier cyber event in Delaware where attendees can learn more about cybersecurity and identity protection, as well as speak directly to cyber experts.  We encourage any Delaware resident, student, or employee to join us.”

While events are planned for all month, the 2022 Secure Delaware Cyber Workshop is an opportunity to come together for all-day cyber training and access to top cyber-protective vendors.  Industry experts will be on-site to provide presentations and discussions related to the current landscape of cyber threats and related security mitigating strategies. The conference will include three keynote speakers, cyber students’ award ceremony, and choice of twelve unique cyber topics split into breakout sessions. Topics will range from current threats, newest cyber legislation, to the Anatomy of an Attack, and cyber protection strategies.  Attendees will view presentations, network with other cyber professionals, and connect with vendors. These presentations will be made available post-event on the digiknow.delaware.gov website. The event is a partnership made available by the Delaware Department of Technology and InformationDelaware League of Local GovernmentsDelaware Small Business Development CenterJP Morgan Chase, and the University of Delaware.

To learn more about the cyber events happening in Delaware including Secure Delaware Workshop 2022 and registration information, please visit the event page at https://digiknow.dti.delaware.gov/events/. There is no cost to attend any of the State of Delaware’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month activities. Please note that registration is limited for each of the events and final registration to attend the Secure Delaware Workshop closes September 9.

For a complete list of other Delaware Cyber Security Awareness Month activities, please visit the events calendar at DigiKnow.delaware.gov.

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About the Delaware Department of Technology and Information

The Department of Technology and Information (DTI) is the state’s central IT organization, chartered to deliver core services to other state organizations and exercise governance over the technology direction and investments of the state. DTI provides enterprise services that enable other organizations to effectively fulfill their missions.

Media Contact:
Christina Dirksen, Strategic Communications Manager, DTI
(302) 739-9736
Christina.Dirksen@state.de.us

 


New DMV Support Pollinator Plate Creating a Buzz

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is excited to announce its new specialty Support Pollinators License Plate recently won the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association’s (ALPCA) Best Plate Award for 2021.

This morning at 10:00 am Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Shanté Hastings, Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles Director Jana Simpler, Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles Deputy Director Amy Anthony, Senator Stephanie Hansen, and Cyndi McCabe President of the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association gathered at St. Jones Reserve in Dover to celebrate the award-winning plate.

The Support Pollinators Plate showcases a combination of vibrant colors, native plants, birds, bees, and butterflies. By purchasing the plate for a one-time fee of $50 online or at any DMV location, you help support pollinator habitat maintenance throughout the State of Delaware. Seventy percent of the fee or $35 goes directly to the Delaware Department of Transportation’s Environmental Stewardship Office to assist with creating, enhancing, and preserving pollinator habitats.

“At DMV we strive to provide a first-class experience for everyone whether in person, on the phone or online,” shared Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “Our specialty plates give our customers the ability to financially support an organization and an avenue to proudly display their support. For us they are more than just aluminum collections of numbers you affix a sticker every couple of years. They symbolize causes near and dear to our customers. It’s a service we are proud to provide.”

“The Support Pollinators Plate bloomed from a collaboration between DelDOT’s Environmental Studies Office, Senator Stephanie Hansen, former Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohen, and the Delaware Native Species Commission,” commented Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles Jana Simpler. “The process took about 2 years and we were beyond thrilled with the final design. It’s really a stunning plate. We are so grateful to be recognized by APLCA.”

“So much of the food we eat everyday depends on the tiniest animals whose incredible work many of us take for granted, and one of the best ways we can protect the fragile ecosystems of these often highly-specialized creatures is by making sure we are all aware of their importance,” said Senator Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown. “That’s why I worked with Representative Debra Heffernan, Senator Dave Sokola and the Delaware DMV last year to create a special Delaware license plate for people who want to support pollinator habitat creation and conservation. While we didn’t set out to win any awards, we all know how serious Delaware takes its license plates, and I’m so excited this beautiful design is getting the attention it deserves.”

ALPCA’s Best Plate Award Coordinator Gus Oliver said “Many of the members commented about the combination of attractiveness and how the plate number did not interfere with the design like it does with most colorful plates. I knew it had an excellent chance of winning the moment I first saw it.”

Community Relations Officer Susan Lee crafted the initial plate design and Susan Detwiler an author and illustrator from Baltimore, Maryland transformed the concept into the colorful work of art now available from DMV. To date, 531 Support Pollinators plates have been reserved since its June 2021 release.

To purchase yours or one of our other specialty plates go to dmv.de.gov/VehicleServices/tags/. Also, make sure to stop by and see us at the Delaware State Fair July 21 through July 30. In addition to DMV’s annual 5 digit black and white tag giveaway, we’ll be giving away a Support Pollinators Plate to recognize this special plate and all it’s attempting to achieve.

This is the state’s second time winning an ALPCA for best license plate. Back in 2008, the organization declared Delaware’s limited-edition Centennial License Plate the best in the country. The DMV currently has 135 specialty plates representing a variety of organizations and causes. Out of the 1,141,367 vehicles registered in the State of Delaware 39,044 are specialty plates.

ALPCA members worldwide nominate the best new plates and then vote based on two judging criteria: the overall attractiveness of the license plate design and its legibility as a tool for public safety and law enforcement. Since 1954, ALPCA has promoted license plate collecting and research, the exchange of information and plates. With over 2,800 members from 50 states and 19 countries, ALPCA is the largest license plate hobbyist organization in the world. For more information on the award or to see the other nominees visit alpca.org/bestplate/2021/.