As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, DelDOT is reminding the public to expect crowded roads as AAA projects more than 42 million people nationally will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend.

“Thousands of people will be visiting Delaware’s beaches and parks or traveling to see family and friends and we encourage everyone to put safety first whether traveling by car, bike, or on foot,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski.

There have been 63 fatalities on Delaware roads to date this year, an increase of nearly 10 percent from the same time last year. In 2022, there were three fatalities on Delaware roads over Memorial Day weekend and more than 100 people were injured because of crashes.

The Delaware State Police will be actively enforcing traffic laws throughout the holiday weekend. Motorists should anticipate more traffic volume on the roads and buckle up, slow down, drive sober and attentively and be cautious for motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Motorcyclists and bicyclists should wear helmets and follow the rules of the road, and pedestrians should only cross roads at designated areas and wear reflective items if walking at night.

Travelers looking to take a break can visit the Biden Welcome Center on I-95 in Newark and the Chauncey O. Simpson Memorial Rest Area adjacent to Route 1 and Route 13 in Smyrna which will both be open to visitors.

At the Delaware Beaches, DART First State’s Beach Bus routes are now operating daily with increased frequencies, early morning to late night, through Sunday, Sept. 10. The routes serve Rehoboth Beach and the Rehoboth boardwalk, Lewes, Long Neck, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Ocean City, Md., Millsboro, and Georgetown. All buses are ADA-accessible and equipped with bike racks. Information on these the Beach Bus routes can be found here.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, Delaware now has 139 traffic fatalities, reaching last year’s total of 139, the highest number since 2006.

“Thousands of Delawareans will take to the roads in the coming days and weeks to visit friends and family near and far and no matter your destination, we remind drivers to put their safety and that of those around them first,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski.

In 2021, there were 33 fatalities that occurred in November and December.

The number of fatalities on our roadways is tragic and heartbreaking. The Office of Highway Safety recently launched its “Safe Family Holiday” campaign to address the leading causes of holiday crashes in Delaware: driving under the influence, speeding, distracted driving, and pedestrian safety and encourages Delawareans to make responsible choices on our roadways,” said Kimberly Chesser, Director of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “During the holidays people tend to get wrapped up in celebrations and activities and relax their safe driving behaviors. Drivers are reminded of poor winter weather conditions, increased holiday traffic, and more pedestrian activity, meaning more dangerous conditions that require your full attention behind the wheel.”

Drugs and alcohol were contributing factors in 36 percent of fatal crashes last year and serves as a reminder to drive sober.

“We must all work together to prevent and eliminate crashes leading to serious injuries and deaths in our State. Safety is our number one priority. We strongly encourage everyone to slow down, avoid distractions behind the wheel and be on the lookout for people walking and biking. It is imperative we all take an active role to protect each other,” said Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen, Jr.

More than 8,200 people were also seriously injured in crashes in 2021.

However you plan to travel this holiday season, please do so safely and don’t become a statistic.

Media Contact:
Arshon Howard
Chief of Community Relations
(302) 744-2675
Arshon.Howard@Delaware.gov

OHS increases DUI enforcement

November 21 – December 26, 2021

[DOVER, Del.] November 18, 2021 — The holiday season is upon us, and this year, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) wants you to give others the gift of holiday safety by pledging not to drink and drive.

During the 2020 winter holiday season, there were 2,646 crashes and 9 deaths on Delaware roads. One-third of those deaths (3) and about 5% (128) of the crashes were DUI-related.

The problem isn’t Delaware’s alone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving is a problem on our nation’s roads every day, but it’s more prevalent during the holidays. Nationally, during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday periods in 2019, there were more drunk-driving-related fatalities (210) than during any other holiday period that year.

But we’ve asked, and you’ve listened. Here in Delaware, we’ve seen our numbers trending down.

• In 2019, there were 3,083 holiday season crashes and 12 fatalities. 129 of those crashes and 4 of those fatalities were DUI-related.
• In 2018, there were 3,612 holiday season crashes and 15 fatalities. 137 of those crashes and 6 of those fatalities were DUI-related.

While these figures represent a decrease in the first state’s DUI-related crashes and fatalities over the winter holiday season, there’s still more we can do to protect ourselves and others.

“The holidays are known for being merry and bright, but they’re also known for being one of the deadliest seasons when it comes to drunk driving. Every holiday season, lives are lost due to impaired drivers,” says Kimberly Chesser, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

“These tragedies are preventable. That’s why we’re asking all Delawareans to commit to keeping the roads free of drunk drivers, so that everyone can have a safe holiday. One way to do that is by celebrating this holiday season with a plan that includes a sober driver.”

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Have a Plan Whether You’re Driving, Riding or Hosting:

• Before drinking, plan a safe and sober ride home, such as a designated driver, ordering a ride through your phone, or by calling a cab.
• Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.
• If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home.
• If you see an impaired driver, call 911. And always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.

What we’re doing

Law enforcement officers across the state are partnering with OHS to remind drivers it is never okay to drink and drive. From Friday, December 10th

through Sunday, December 26th, Delaware drivers will see more officers on the roads as part of an active DUI-enforcement campaign. The increased enforcement aims to motivate drivers to not drive under the influence of alcohol, as well as remind them of the consequences and dangers of drunk driving.To reinforce the message that drinking and driving doesn’t mix, the Office of Highway Safety is also partnering with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

This years marks the 35th year of MADD’s ‘Tie One On For Safety’ campaign, which asks people to tie a red ribbon on their car antennas as a visible reminder to designate a sober, non-drinking driver.

To support our shared mission of preventing drunk driving deaths, OHS will be handing out 1,000 red ribbons at Milton’s Winter WonderFEST.

Other Holiday Hazards

Drunk driving is not the only concern during the holiday season. That’s why OHS is conducting its annual Safe Family Holiday campaign that runs between Christmas and New Year’s, and highlights traffic safety dangers that are more prevalent during the holiday season.

Now that it’s getting darker earlier, it’s even harder for drivers to see pedestrians. To make sure everyone arrives alive, the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) encourages all pedestrians to carry a flashlight or wear reflective/light-colored clothing. OHS also asks drivers to slow down and to be on the lookout for pedestrians – especially in neighborhoods.

The cold, winter weather also poses challenges for drivers. Rain, sleet, and ice can impact a driver’s steering and stopping abilities – making a driver’s reaction time even more critical. To help reduce dangerous distractions in the car and keep drivers’ eyes on the road, drivers should already have their directions set and routed before they even leave the driveway. Winter storms can also come on suddenly, so drivers should check the latest weather warnings and traffic and road conditions before they head out.

To remind drivers of the extra road risks during the holidays, OHS is conducting several additional enforcement campaigns:

• Law enforcement officers across the state will place a special emphasis on enforcing pedestrian safety laws from November 27th through December 19th.
• There will also be exta enforcement around occupant protection and distracted driving starting November 21st and running through December 19th.

About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety

The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues, such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues. Follow OHS on ArriveAliveDE.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Three drivers arrested for driving while impaired and nine individuals arrested on drug-related charges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II & Public Information Officer
Delaware Office of Highway Safety
Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov
302-744-2740

Dover, Del. (December 16, 2019) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety coordinated DUI checkpoints in each county statewide this past weekend as part of the Safe Family Holiday DUI enforcement campaign, and the results are in. Three individuals were arrested for driving while impaired, and one person was apprehended on an outstanding warrant. Nine individuals were arrested on drug-related charges, and 18 drivers were detained for further investigation. In addition, 38 drivers were cited for other traffic arrests including four drivers for driving without being buckled up.

A total of 60 officers from the Delaware State Police and local law enforcement agencies manned the three checkpoints and saw a total of 2,522 cars pass-through.

DUI Checkpoints are placed in locations based on crash statistics and frequency of DUI arrests

“OHS will continue Safe Family Holiday DUI Patrols throughout December and the New Year in our ongoing commitment to removing impaired drivers off of our streets and highways, ultimately lowering the risk for deaths and injuries due to driving while intoxicated from drugs or alcohol,” – Richard Klepner, Deputy Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety. 

To date, there have been 4,015 DUI arrests throughout the state of Delaware since January 1st and *24 confirmed DUI fatal crashes.

The Office of Highway Safety is grateful to the Delaware State Police, local law enforcement agencies, and safety partners who manned the Safe Family Holiday DUI checkpoints. Operation Checkpoint Strikeforce is a collaborate enforcement and campaign throughout the year that is made possible through the cooperative efforts with our safety partners.

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety by visiting:
Delaware Office of Highway Safety Web Site
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Operation Checkpoint StrikeForce Activated this weekend in conjunction with the Safe Family Holiday DUI Enforcement Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II & Public Information Officer
Delaware Office of Highway Safety
Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov
302-744-2740

Dover, Del. (December 13, 2019) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is coordinating Operation Checkpoint Strikeforce in each county statewide this weekend as part of the Safe Family Holiday DUI enforcement campaign, which is ongoing throughout the state this holiday season.

On Saturday, December 14, 2019, Delaware State Police and local law enforcement will be conducting DUI checkpoints in all three counties from 10 PM into Sunday, December 15, 2019, at 2 AM, as follows:

NCC – Limestone Road, Wilmington
KC – US 13, Dover
SC – SR 54, Fenwick Island

So far in 2019, there are 20 confirmed DUI fatalities (note: this number is not final as there are crashes still under investigation for impairment).

“Our office wants to reinforce the need to plan ahead during this busy time of year. If you are joining your coworkers for a holiday party after work, or meeting family at a restaurant for your holiday festivities, and plan to drink, make sure you have a sober ride home and arrive alive,” said Delaware Office of Highway Safety Director, Kimberly Chesser. “There is no excuse for driving impaired. Give your loved ones the gift of you this holiday season and make sure you get home safely.”

In addition to the Safe Family Holiday DUI Checkpoints, OHS wants to remind the public of best practices for a safe night on the roads this holiday season:

• If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
• Find a safe ride statewide from the OHS Safe Ride resource link https://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/Safe-Rides#wilmington.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement, when safe to do so.
• Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely. They’re worth it.

For more information on the consequences of driving impaired, visit https://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/Consequences.

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety:
Delaware Office of Highway Safety Web Site
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram