The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and its partners collected 91,810 bags of trash in 2023 in the ongoing effort to Keep DE Litter Free. The work was performed by DelDOT Maintenance & Operations employees, DART, Adopt-A-Highway/Sponsor-A-Highway efforts, the Work A Day Earn A Pay Program, and with help from the Delaware Department of the Corrections’ (DOC) inmate work program.

The Department and its partners also collected nearly 5,000 tires, and 68 appliances from alongside Delaware roads.

“Keeping trash off our roads not only improves the appearance of our state, it keeps it out of our waterways, contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment for all of us,” said Governor John Carney.

“While our total litter collection increased by nearly 25 percent last year thanks to the efforts of employees and volunteers, it remains an ongoing problem,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “There is no quick and easy way to collect trash, but there is an easy way to prevent it, by choosing not to throw trash out of vehicles.”

To learn how you can join the efforts to help Keep DE Litter Free visit governor.delaware.gov. Businesses and organizations interested in adopting or sponsoring a highway through DelDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway or Sponsor-A-Highway programs can apply now at DelDOT.gov.

Heavier snow to cause poor visibility this afternoon with roads expected to freeze tonight

SMYRNA, Del. — The Delaware Department of Transportation and Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA)  are issuing a travel advisory for this afternoon and evening due to poor visibility from heavier snowfall and freezing on road surfaces tonight as temperatures drop. The advisory is not an official Level 1 Driving Warning, but is meant to caution motorists of adverse weather conditions and to stay off roads if possible. If driving is necessary, motorists are urged to use caution and common sense.

“DelDOT crews have been working throughout the storm to clear and treat roads across the state, however, falling temperatures and continued snowfall will cause roads and bridges to be icy as the day progresses,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “Please slow down and adapt your driving to the conditions if you must be out.”

The National Weather Service is forecasting snowfall rates that cause reduced visibility for motorists and temperatures to drop below freezing tonight. This will create hazardous driving condition across the area. DelDOT crews are working to clear the roadways, but many secondary routes will remain slippery and snow-covered.

Winter Driving and Safety Tips:

1. Make sure that your windshield is completely clear of snow and ice and that you also clear snow off the top of your vehicle and the bed of your pickup trucks.
2. Once on the road, take it slowly. Travel at or below the posted speed limit.
3. Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. If you’re too close, there will not be enough time to react if that person loses control of his vehicle.
4. Turn on headlights so other drivers can see you. It’s Delaware law to use headlights in conditions of poor visibility. Low beams provide better visibility than using high beams.
5. Apply brakes carefully, especially on hills and exit/entrance ramps. Allow for more stopping distance.
6. Bridges and overpasses freeze faster than other road surfaces. There might be ice you cannot see.
7. Pay extra attention when approaching intersections. Watch for cars that don’t have the right of way. Even though you are taking precautions, you need reaction time in case other drivers go through a stop sign or stop light.
8. Wear your seatbelt. If you are involved in a wreck your seatbelt will help you keep control of the vehicle and improve your chances of escaping serious injury or death by nearly 50%.
9. If your vehicle starts to skid, don’t panic. Don’t hit the brakes hard. If your car has anti-lock brakes (ABS), apply steady pressure to the brakes, shift the car or truck into neutral and steer in the direction you want your car to go until the skid is over. If you don’t have ABS, apply pressure to the brakes, just short of locking them up, release the pressure, and then re-apply at a lower level.

   

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Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is the lead state agency for coordination of comprehensive emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery, and mitigation services to save lives, protect Delaware’s economic base and reduce the impact of emergencies. DEMA is a division within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) and authorized by Delaware Code, Title 20,Chapter 31 §3101-3130.

Social Media:

Delaware Department of Transportation on Facebook and X
Delaware Emergency Management Agency on Facebook and X and Instagram

SMYRNA, Del. – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is rescinding the Level 1 Driving Warning as of Wednesday, January 17 at 7:00 a.m. The warning was issued on Tuesday, January 16 due to the likelihood of icing occurring on roads and bridges statewide overnight. A Level 1 Driving Warning is an advisory against unnecessary travel due to road conditions. Motorists were advised to “exercise extra caution in the operation of their motor vehicle” and “encouraged not to operate a motor vehicle… unless there is a significant safety, health, or business reason to do so.”

Due to an Arctic front overspreading the region, low temperatures were expected to be in the teens in many areas. While DelDOT crews treated roads and bridges overnight, rock salt becomes less effective when temperatures reach 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Weather Service reports another system could bring snow to Delaware on Friday.

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Social Media: Delaware Emergency Management Agency on Facebook and X and Instagram

With temperatures forecasted to fall well below freezing tonight, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency has issued a Level 1 Driving Warning statewide for the overnight hours of Tuesday, January 16, 2024, to Wednesday, January 17, 2024, due to the likelihood of icing occurring on roads and bridges statewide tonight. A Level 1 Driving Warning is an advisory against unnecessary travel due to road conditions.

The National Weather Service is advising that an Arctic airmass will overspread southeast Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the eastern shores of Maryland, and Delaware. Temperatures tonight will drop into the single digits and low teens across the region.

While DelDOT crews will continue to treat roads and bridges through the overnight hours, rock salt becomes less effective when temperatures reach 15 degrees Fahrenheit, which many areas of the state may near tonight.

Level 1 Driving Warning Definition: A ‘Level 1 Driving Warning’ shall mean that any person operating a motor vehicle when a Level 1 Driving Warning has been activated shall exercise extra caution in the operation of their motor vehicle. Non-essential employees, regardless of whether employed by a public or private entity, are encouraged not to operate a motor vehicle on the State’s roadways, unless there is a significant safety, health or business reason to do so.

The Level 1 Driving Warning will be publicly rescinded when road conditions allow.

137 fatalities were recorded on Delaware roads in 2023, a 16 percent decrease from 2022 when 164 fatalities occurred.

Fatalities were down across all modes of transportation with a 13 percent reduction in pedestrian fatalities; 29 percent reduction in bicyclist fatalities; and a 32 percent reduction in motorcyclist fatalities from last year.

“Reducing fatalities on our roads has been a primary focus of DelDOT and our partner agencies and there is more work to do. We are working every day to make our roads safer for everyone,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski.

“We all have a responsibility for safety on our roads, whether we are traveling by car, public transit, on foot, or bike,” said Governor John Carney. “Paying attention, obeying speed limits and planning sober rides all make a difference. Let’s continue the trend so we can avoid these preventable tragedies.”

“While we are encouraged by the overall decline in traffic fatalities, substantial work remains ahead. As we acknowledge this progress, let it reinforce the potential impact achievable through collective action. Let’s continue to prioritize safety and promote responsible driving habits. Together, we can forge a future where our roads become safer and secure for everyone,” stated Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen, Jr.”

“To achieve the goal of having zero fatalities on our roads, we are taking steps to form meaningful partnerships and actively engage within the community to spread our safety message more effectively,” said Sharon Bryson, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS). “Additionally, OHS will continue to work closely with our traffic safety partners and state and local law enforcement to provide additional enforcement, distribute educational materials, and raise awareness to keep the number of fatalities down. By working together, we can make Delaware roadways safer for everyone to arrive alive.”

DelDOT, Delaware State Police, and the Office of Highway Safety will be holding a safety summit on April 17, 2024, at the Chase Center in Wilmington to discuss ongoing efforts and new initiatives to address crashes and fatalities on Delaware roads.

Three fatalities have occurred on Delaware roads to date in 2024.