OHS Activates Operation Checkpoint StrikeForce For All 3 counties This Weekend

Dover, Del. (October 25, 2019) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is coordinating Operation Checkpoint Strikeforce in each county statewide for Halloween weekend. This zero-tolerance initiative in Delaware, implemented since 2002, is designed to get impaired drivers off of our roads using checkpoints and patrols. The initiative also aims to educate drivers on the dangers and consequences of driving impaired including injury, death, and over $6,000 in fines (for the first DUI).

During Halloween Weekend, Delaware State Police and local law enforcement will be conducting DUI checkpoints in all three counties on Saturday, October 26th, into Sunday morning, October 27th, from 10 PM to 2 AM, as follows:

• US-40 in Newark
• US-13 in Dover
• Sussex Highway in Seaford

So far in 2019, there are 16 confirmed DUI fatalities (note: this number is not final as there are crashes still under investigation for impairment).

“This year, Halloween falls on a Thursday, so we’re certain to see extra celebrations throughout this weekend, and everyone celebrating should plan to ensure a ride home,” said Kimberly Chesser, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “If you plan to drink, there are many options for a safe ride home. Have a friend designated as a sober driver, or use a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft.”

In addition to the Halloween Weekend Checkpoint Strikeforce, OHS wants to remind the public of best practices for a safe night on the roads this Halloween:

• 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.
• 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 by clicking on:

Delaware Office of Highway Safety Web Site

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

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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. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2019

Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II and Public Information Officer (OHS)

Cynthia.Cavett@Delaware.Gov

Results of July 12^th Impaired Driving Checkpoints

Over 60 Law Enforcement Officers operated

July Checkpoint StrikeForce 

Dover, DE (July 19, 2019) – Three DUI checkpoints in all three counties were set up on July 12, 2019, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. as part of our Checkpoint StrikeForce mobilization. The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is pleased to report that the operation was successful.

The Office of Highway Safety had the opportunity to monitor operations in Kent and Sussex counties and observe positive officer interaction. “The Office of Highway Safety thanks the Delaware State Police and our local law enforcement partners for assisting during Operation Checkpoint StrikeForce and their unrelenting commitment to improving the safety of Delaware’s roadways,” – Christopher Klein, Acting Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

Frequently asked questions on the consequences of life after a DUI can be found at http://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/FAQs.  For more information on Delaware DUI fatalities and arrests, visit http://www.arrivealivede.com/DriveSober.

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

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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. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist & Public Information Officer
Delaware Office of Highway Safety
Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov
302-744-2743

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is activating Checkpoint StrikeForce across the state on

Friday, July 12th into Saturday morning, July 13th

Dover, DE (July 12, 2019) – While the summer continues to heat up, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety urges everyone to plan ahead for a safe and sober ride home. Don’t let the party end tragically by drinking and/or consuming drugs and getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Checkpoint StrikeForce is being activated this weekend, which is one of the tools used to reduce impairment-related crashes in our state. Its success is due to the collective efforts from multiple law enforcement agencies and partners throughout each of our counties.

The Delaware State Police, local, and county police departments, will be coordinating DUI checkpoints in all three counties on Friday, July 12, into Saturday morning, July 13, from 10 PM to 2 AM, as follows:

• DE-72 in South Newark
• US-13 in North Dover
• DE-20 in Seaford

If stopped at a checkpoint, officers will be looking for signs that drivers may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Drivers showing signs of impairment may be required to take various sobriety tests, including field sobriety tests (standing on one leg, the walk-and-turn, etc.), blowing into a breathalyzer or submitting to a blood test.

If a driver refuses to take a test ordered by an officer, they may be charged with a crime including aggravated DWI if an officer finds probable cause that a driver is under the influence.

Drug Recognition Experts

Drug Recognition Experts (DREs), law enforcement officers trained in detecting drug-impaired drivers, will be on hand at the checkpoints to identify drivers impaired by illegal and prescription drugs.

Officers will also be strictly enforcing speed limits, seat belt, and child restraint laws, focusing on roadways where crashes tend to be most prevalent, according to data from the Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

It is never okay to drive when impaired. This not only means refraining from drunk driving, but also from drug-impaired driving. NHTSA’s 2013/14 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers found that nearly one in four weekend drivers tested positive for at least one drug that could impair their driving skills and their ability to drive safely.

For more information, please visit https://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober.

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

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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. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.

Statewide Enforcement Checkpoints Aim to Reduce DUI-Related Crashes & Fatalities 

(Dover, DE) – On Thursday, June 13^th, Attorney General Kathy Jennings swore in 53 officers representing jurisdictions from New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties to serve as part of the Checkpoint StrikeForce (CPSF) and other checkpoints that will take place throughout the state this year. Impaired driving is an on-going threat that claims dozens of lives on Delaware’s roadways every year. In 2019 alone, there have been more than half a dozen fatalities attributed to impaired-driving and more than 1,860 DUI arrests.

“Driving drunk or buzzed is reckless, needless, and illegal, but more than 4,000 DUI arrests last year alone show that we must stay vigilant about protecting our roads from those who get behind the wheel of a car when they shouldn’t,” says Kathy Jennings, Attorney General for the State of Delaware. “I’m grateful to the officers within CheckPoint StrikeForce for keeping all of us safe and for sending a strong message that Delaware is serious about stopping drunk driving and preventing crashes.”

The 2019 CPSF initiative consists of five DUI checkpoints across the State occurring on multiple occasions throughout the year, in addition to checkpoints conducted by local municipalities and saturation patrols.

“I was thoroughly impressed by the multi-agency response and the 50+ officers that were sworn in today to join the CheckPoint StrikeForce campaign,” says Christopher Klein, Acting Director of the Office of Highway Safety (OHS). “This Highway Safety initiative is one of the tools utilized to bring meaningful reductions to impairment-related crashes, and is only successful as a result of all of the dedicated law enforcement officers that have taken the oath to enforce Delaware’s DUI laws.”

The Office of Highway Safety is providing overtime funds to law enforcement this summer and throughout the year to enforce the State’s DUI laws. In addition, OHS is running statewide marketing and education campaigns to encourage drivers to Arrive Alive. OHS’s newest impairment campaign, Don’t Blow It, focuses on the consequences of drivers being alcohol-impaired when their blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) are .08 g/dl or higher. A DUI can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. It can also lead to an arrest, or worse, to death.

Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II and Public Information Officer for OHS, recommends the following tips for Delaware drivers to Arrive Alive:

• It is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve only had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan a sober ride home. Take Uber, Lyft, or a cab. For an up-to-date list of rideshare options near you, go to http://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/Safe-Rides#wilmington.
• Use public transportation to get home safely. For current bus schedules and locations, visit https://dartfirststate.com/.
• Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app at www.nhtsa.gov/link/saferride/. SaferRide allows users to call a taxi or a predetermined friend and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up.
• Make the commitment to only driving when you’re 100-percent sober.

“There is absolutely no reason, whatsoever, why anyone should drive home impaired,” says Cavett. “With the abundance of ride-share and public transportation availability across the state, there are more options now than ever before for ensuring a safe and sober ride home.”

Frequently asked questions on the consequences of life after a DUI can be found at http://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/FAQs.  For more information on Delaware DUI fatalities and arrests, visit http://www.arrivealivede.com/DriveSober.

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

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. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.

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DUI checkpoints in place on Wednesday, Nov. 21, ahead of Thanksgiving weekend

DOVER, DE (Nov. 19, 2018) — The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) has announced the kickoff of The Safe Family Holiday Campaign and the theme “It’s The Most Dangerous Time of the Year”, running through Tuesday, January 1, 2019.  The awareness campaign is a reminder that there are increased dangers associated with holiday driving. Efforts are focused to reduce crashes and fatalities on Delaware roadways during the holiday season.  In addition to the education component of the campaign, the annual Safe Family Holiday will have an ongoing enforcement period, which focuses on impaired driving, speed, pedestrian safety, occupant protection, and distracted driving during one of the busiest travel times of the year.

“Celebrations, inclement weather and undue stress that come along with the holiday season often make for a dangerous combination for drivers and pedestrians,” said Kimberly Chesser, OHS’ acting director. “In fact, in the past five years, there were 316 pedestrian crashes across the state in November – December alone. This is a busy time of year, but that doesn’t mean it has to be hazardous for travelers, which is why our office is once again bringing back ‘The Safe Family Holiday Campaign’ and reminding motorists of the increased dangers associated with holiday travel on Delaware roadways. We want everyone to enjoy the holiday season, but to also be responsible and get where they are going safely.”

The campaign will once again use a life-size snow globe and carolers—ubiquitous holiday favorites, but with a unique safety-messaging twist*— to rally Delawareans to be more responsible drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, and empower them to take steps to reduce holiday crashes and fatalities.

The snow globe and carolers will be featured at the following prominent community events and locations throughout the state, and will be joined by street teams that will encourage passersby to sign a holiday drive responsibility pledge and enter the larger-than-life inflated snow globes, where they’ll have a picture taken to commemorate their commitment to safe driving and walking:

• Saturday, Dec. 1, from noon to 5 P.M.: A Farmer’s Christmas at the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover, Delaware
• Saturday, Dec. 8, from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M.: Winter WonderFEST2018 at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware
• Saturday, Dec. 15, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.: Dover Mall in Dover, Delaware
• Saturday, Dec. 22, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.: Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware

“The response to last year’s campaign was overwhelmingly positive, generating more than 1,000 pledges,” said Chesser. “We hope to have the same results if not more for this holiday season.”

In addition to these grassroots efforts, OHS will have three DUI checkpoints in place on Wednesday, Nov. 21, ahead of Thanksgiving weekend. Checkpoints will be conducted from 10 P.M. – 2 A.M. at the following locations:

• Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington, Delaware
• South State Street in Dover, Delaware
• US Route 113 in Lincoln, Delaware

“Thanksgiving Eve is one of the most dangerous nights of the year with a high number of impaired crashes,” adds Chesser. “This is why we are taking precautions to ensure the safety of our Delawareans. Plan ahead and have a designated driver or take advantage of one of the many ridesharing programs available.”

Statistics

Recent statistics emphasize why OHS is focusing on four core areas of travel safety during The Most Dangerous Time of the Year campaign.

• DUIs: So far in 2018, the state of Delaware has seen 3,470 arrests and 18 fatalities related to impaired driving.
• Speeding: Last year (2017) Delaware had 27 fatalities related to speed.
• Pedestrians: Over the past 5 years, 147 pedestrians have been killed in traffic crashes; in 2017, crashes caused the death of 33 pedestrians in Delaware.
• Distracted driving and failure to use seatbelts: Last year (2017) inattentive driving caused the majority of personal injury and property damage crashes in Delaware and 52% of fatalities were unbuckled. And from 2013-2017, Delaware had 150 unrestrained crashes in November – December.

For more information, please visit ohs.delaware.gov, or visit us on Facebook (@highwaysafetyde), Twitter (@highwaysafetyDE) and Instagram (highwaysafetyde).

*Snowglobe depicted in posters, print ads, billboards, theater ads, retail floor displays, social media posts, website pages and more will display the usual festive holiday settings, but with a vehicle accident disrupting the “peace and joy” of the season. With an overriding message of “Don’t let a crash shake things up this holiday season,” specific messages will address everything from avoiding DUIs and putting the phone away while driving, to slowing down, buckling up and crossing at crosswalks.

*Carolers will be equipped with lyrics to traditional holiday favorites, reinforcing The Most Dangerous Time of the Year messaging. These carols will be heard live as they travel with the inflatable snow globes, as well as on the radio during the campaign period. 

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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. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.