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.

In June 2022, Gov. Carney signed into law the Delaware Large Capacity Magazine Prohibition Act of 2022 making the possession of high capacity magazines illegal in the State. In addition, the law authorizes the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) to conduct a limited buyback program. Delaware residents are eligible to receive fair market compensation for any magazine with the capacity to hold more than 17 rounds of ammunition when relinquished to law enforcement.

This buyback program is for Delaware residents only. The program is only intended for individuals and does not apply to wholesale, retail, manufacturers, and distributor business entities. Anonymous relinquishments will be permitted. However, no compensation will be provided.

DSHS is hosting the following buyback events in each county:

Wednesday, November 16 from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Locations:

Delaware State Police Troop 4
23652 Shortly Road
Georgetown, DE 19947

Delaware State Police Troop 3
3759 South State Street
Camden, DE 19934

Delaware State Police Troop 2
100 Lagrange Avenue
Newark, DE 19702

Saturday, November 19 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Locations:

Delaware State Police Troop 4
23652 Shortly Road
Georgetown, DE 19947

Delaware State Police Troop 3
3759 South State Street
Camden, DE 19934

Delaware State Police Troop 2
100 Lagrange Avenue
Newark, DE 19702

Delawareans providing valid identification for proof of residency may receive:
• LCM 18 to 30 Rounds – $15
• LCM 31 or greater round – $25
• LCM Drums – $80

If you plan to redeem a device and have questions, call (302) 744-2680.

Residents are encouraged to review 11 Del. C. § 1469(c) as certain exemptions apply.

The BMW Championship begins next week at the Wilmington Country Club and will bring thousands of visitors to northern Delaware for the nearly weeklong event that concludes on Sunday, August 21, 2022. DelDOT is reminding residents and vistors to expect heavier traffic volumes on area roads during the tournament, and will be working with Delaware State Police to manage traffic in the area of the country club and shuttle parking location at Delaware Park.

The Wilmington Country Club, located on Route 52, will have no public parking for the event, and there will be no public parking permitted along area roads or in neighborhoods near the country club. Additionally, Kirk Road between Route 52 and Montchanin Road will be closed to through traffic daily starting Monday, August 15, through Sunday, August 21, from 6am-8pm. Local residents will be allowed access at all times via a credential they have been issued. Buck Road, just to the south of Kirk Rd will serve as the detour during this closure.

For those traveling around the area of the country club next week, DelDOT will not be performing any construction activity west of 141, and heavier traffic volumes should be expected along with continually running shuttle buses taking attendees to and from the designated parking venues. There may also be some intermittent lane shifts on Route 52 at the entrance of the country club to accommodate the entry and exit of shuttle buses, however, through traffic on Route 52 will continue at all times.

The designated parking areas for visitors to the tournament are at Delaware Park in Stanton and Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. More information on parking and shuttle service to the event can be found here. Traffic around Delaware Park will be heavier than normal, and DelDOT traffic teams will be monitoring the area and making traffic signal timing adjustments as necessary throughout the week.

DelDOT reminds everyone to put safety first and be mindful of the heavier traffic volumes and potential for delays when traveling around northern Delaware next week, allowing extra time to reach your destinations or taking advantage of public transportation with DART First State.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) in partnership with the Delaware State Police announce the warning period for the Electronic Speed Safety Program in the I-95 construction zone in Wilmington ends on Sunday, April 17, 2022. Beginning Monday, April 18, 2022, first-time offenders will receive a warning and all subsequent violations will result in a violation notice. Registered vehicle owners will receive a base violation of $20.00 and an additional amount is added for each mile per hour over the posted work zone speed limit in accordance with Del. C. §4169(c).

For example, if the captured violation occurs at a speed of 58 mph, the speed violation is $20.00 plus an additional $13.00 which accounts for $1.00 for each mile per hour over the 45-mph posted work zone speed limit, and the assessment of other fees as set forth in Delaware Code for a total of $74.50. These violations are civil penalties only and no points will be assessed to driver’s licenses.

The goal of the pilot program is to reduce work zone speeds and crashes, change driver behavior, and improve work zone safety for workers and motorists. In 2021, there were 423 crashes in the I-95 work zone in Delaware, an increase of 49 percent in the same area from 2019.

To date, more than 24,000 warnings have been issued, and there has been a 10 percent reduction in speeds on average through the work zone since the program began in January. Additionally, crashes in the work zone have decreased by almost 37 percent compared to the same time period last year.

Use of automated speed enforcement was granted by the Delaware General Assembly in Section 142 of the FY22 Bond Bill as a pilot and only for Restore the Corridor work zone. More information about the program can be found at www.restorethecorridor.com.

From left to right: Jana Tidwell from AAA Mid-Atlantic, Delaware State Police Sergeant Heather Pepper, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Daria Benson and family (DelDOT), Tom Neubauer (Kiewit), Jason Sacco (DelDOT), Sarah Powell and family (DelDOT), Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski at NWZAW event in Wilmington

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) encourages everyone to take part in National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), April 11, 2022, through April 15, 2022, and to wear orange on Go Orange Day, April 13 as a reminder to use always caution and drive carefully in and around work zones.

On Monday, Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, representatives from AAA Mid-Atlantic, the Delaware State Police, and Kiewit gathered in Wilmington adjacent to the I-95 Restore the Corridor work zone to remind motorists the importance of slowing down and paying attention when traveling through work zones. The theme of this year’s campaign: Drive Like Your Family Works Here. If we all work together, we can achieve zero deaths on our roads and in our work zones.

“Keeping our work zones safe is a collective effort,” said Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “Together by minimizing distractions, reducing our speed, and obeying posted signs while driving through work zones we can save lives. Keeping our roads, highways, and bridges safe should be all our DelDOT crews are focused on. They should not have to worry about whether or not they’ll make it home for dinner.”

“On any given day, we have hundreds of DelDOT employees and contractors working on our roadways making improvements to keep you safe. We also have our toll collectors working in the middle of our busiest roadways serving our customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “This year’s theme is Drive Like Your Family Works Here. So please when you see a construction sign, our employees working along the roadway or going through our toll booths, slow down and Drive Like Your Family Works Here because we don’t ever want to lose a member of our DelDOT Family.”

April 13, 2022 starting at 10:00 am, Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski and representatives from the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and Mumford & Miller Construction will gather for another NWZAW event at American Legion #28 at 31768 Legion Road in Millsboro, Delaware.

Honor the families who have lost loved ones in work zone crashes on Go Orange Day Wednesday, April 13, 2022, and when passing through the Newark, Biddles, and Dover Toll Plazas or driving over the Indian River Inlet Bridge (Charles Cullen Bridge) remember the lights shine orange during April as a reminder of the role we all play in work zone safety.

NWZAW is held in April each year at the traditional start of the construction season when the number of works on our nation’s roadways increases. NWZAW began in 1999 when the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) signed a Memorandum of Agreement pledging to increase public awareness of work zone safety issues through a national media campaign. Since then, awareness has continued to grow, with state agencies and other organizations sponsoring high-visibility education and outreach initiatives.

Discover other actions DelDOT is taking to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Delaware’s roadways with the Delaware Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Click here to access this multi-agency approach that utilizes education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency medical service strategies, or visit DelDOT.gov.