National Distracted Driving Awareness Month: U Drive. U Text. U Pay.

DOVER, DE (April 4, 2022) — The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is joining local and state law enforcement agencies across Delaware from April 1-29 to conduct high visibility enforcement and support several mobilization initiatives during the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving is one of the fastest-growing safety issues on Delaware roads today. Increasing trends in fatalities show that our roads are the most dangerous they’ve been in years.

Distracted driving crashes are often under-reported.  But data shows that in Delaware, between 2017 and 2021, 180 people were seriously injured or died in crashes involving distracted drivers. Last year, distracted driving was a contributing factor in 8,161 crashes.

OHS is participating in the nationwide Connect-to-Disconnect (C2D) distracted driving enforcement and awareness initiative in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) U Drive. U Text. U Pay. This high-visibility enforcement effort takes place on April 7 to remind drivers about the dangers and consequences of distracted driving.

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety continues to support the Delaware State Police “Drive to Save Lives” initiative on April 8-9. This mobilization brings together multiple law enforcement agencies from Florida to Maine to focus patrols up and down the I-95 corridor, aimed at keeping motorists safe and reducing fatalities.

In addition to the increased enforcement and awareness initiatives, Governor John Carney will be signing a proclamation on April 7th at 1:30 p.m. at Legislative Hall in Dover, to designate April as “Distracted Driving Awareness Month.” This proclamation not only generates awareness but also puts real, potentially life-saving action behind it that benefits Delaware drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Delawareans are reminded during “Distracted Driving Awareness Month” that they should drive distraction-free year-round.

Drivers are encouraged to make the commitment to avoid distractions behind the wheel by using the “Do Not Disturb” tool on their smartphones. This tool allows a person to set up automated responses to calls and texts that they receive while driving. Almost all smartphones offer this feature, yet many people don’t realize they have it.

We use our cell phones for everything: planning, working, taking pictures, using social media, and so much more. For many, these small, complex devices are essential to everyday life. Unfortunately, texting and scrolling through social media while driving are huge issues on today’s roads. This practice is dangerous and illegal in most states.

“While we generally think of distracted driving as texting or talking on a cell phone, it can also take many other forms, such as adjusting the GPS, grooming, eating, or even interacting with other passengers,” said Kimberly Chesser, Director, Office of Highway Safety. “If your attention is anywhere other than the road, you’re driving distracted, and that makes you a dangerous driver.”

 

Drive Safe Every Trip

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety and NHTSA urge drivers to put their phones away when behind the wheel. If you are the driver, follow these steps for a safe driving experience:

  • If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.
  • Ask your passenger to be your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
  • Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
  • Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, or put your phone in your vehicle’s trunk, glove box, or back seat until you arrive at your destination.

Delaware Office of Highway Safety Logo

For more information on the campaign, statistics, and education on pedestrian safety, visit www.ArriveAliveDE.com/Be-Alert.

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 the Delaware Office of Highway Safety on ArriveAliveDE.comFacebookTwitterInstagram, and Snapchat

Media Contact:
Delaware Office Of Highway Safety
Jason Coleman
jason.coleman@delaware.gov
302-744-2743 (office)
302-943-7293 (cell)

###


I-95 Drive to Save Lives & Drive to Save Lives across Delaware – April 9th to 10th, 2021

Delaware- In 2014 the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) initiated the “Drive to Save Lives” campaign to reduce deaths on U.S. highways. The campaign targeted distracted and impaired driving, speeding, the use of seatbelts and the unsafe driving behaviors of operators of large trucks and buses. A combination of education and awareness, partnering with other agencies, and high-visibility traffic enforcement were used to achieve the campaign goals. These successful efforts gave the IACP a desire to continue the campaign annually.

Delaware State Police have coordinated the “Drive to Save Lives” efforts at least once a year, specifically on Delaware’s portion of I-95 for the past several years. Working alongside DSP there are 14 other participating state police and highway patrol agencies that patrol portions of I-95. Over the past four years DSP has taken their campaign coordination efforts a step further. In 2017, DSP began requesting other Delaware law enforcement agencies having patrol-related duties to be included in the campaign. As a result, numerous agencies throughout the state have been participating in this campaign. This year is proving to become the greatest teamwork effort with at least 30 Delaware municipal agencies slated to participate in the April 9th and 10th campaign.

Delaware’s Office of Highway Safety has continued to be a supporter of the “Drive to Save Lives” campaign. All law enforcement agencies, along with the Office of Highway Safety, are looking forward to working together during April’s campaign. With the Office of Highway Safety’s assistance, Delaware’s participating law enforcement agencies are better able to supply personnel for these high-visibility patrols.

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is pleased to support the Delaware State Police and municipal agencies from across the state in the “Drive to Save Lives” initiative. This is an opportunity for Delaware to participate in a nationwide event, focusing on multiple highway safety priorities, using data-driven enforcement methods and education to decrease the high-risk behaviors of drivers. These partners are committed to decreasing fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways and it’s initiatives like this that can help us achieve that goal,” Sarah Cattie, Traffic Safety Program Manager, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

The Delaware State Police will be coordinating the I-95 effort, as well as the portion of the campaign that extends to other roadways throughout the state. DSP will be patrolling the state’s main corridors, while the municipal agencies will be patrolling their specific jurisdictions. The team of agencies will be highly motivated to perform traffic stops, educate operators, and issue citations. The ultimate goal is to provide education and enforcement that will lead to a decrease in the number of crashes throughout Delaware not only on April 9th and 10th, but into the future.

The Delaware State Police are proud to partner with our allied agencies around the State in the 2021 Drive to Save Lives campaign.  While utilizing education and proactive enforcement strategies, Troopers will engage motorists each day with the intention to enhance driver safety and reduce fatal and serious injury collisions.   Along with our highway safety partners, we are dedicated to this nationwide effort and to our shared goals of keeping Delawareans and our visitors safe.”  Colonel Melissa Zebley, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police

drive safe logo from the delaware state police

 

 

 

Delaware State Police Official Web Site

Facebook

Twitter

Nextdoor

Office of Highway Safety Logo

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 the Delaware Office of Highway Safety on ArriveAliveDE.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.


Delaware Office Of Highway Safety Launches “Be Alert And Arrive Alive” Distracted Driving Campaign

DELAWARE OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY LAUNCHES

“BE ALERT AND ARRIVE ALIVE” CAMPAIGN DURING

NATIONAL DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH

Integrated campaign strategy leverages the reach and influence of Delaware businesses, community partners, and law enforcement to maximize distracted driving awareness 

DOVER, Del. (April 8, 2021)The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is leveraging the momentum of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month (April) to launch the new “Be Alert and Arrive Alive” campaign focused on motivating Delawareans to stop activities behind the wheel that contribute to one of the leading causes of crashes in the state. According to the most recent data available from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving resulted in 3,142 fatalities nationwide in 2019, a ten percent increase from 2018 indicating that distracted driving is a growing traffic safety problem.  Distracted driving is as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than drinking and driving. A NHTSA study found that texting while driving is six times more likely to cause a crash than driving under the influence. While the campaign aims to motivate safer behavior among all drivers, OHS is specifically targeting a significant population of distracted driving offenders: males ages 16 to 24 in urban and rural areas of the state. To further gain the attention of this critical audience, communications will focus on putting the dangers of distracted driving and drunk driving on equal footing. But make no mistake: It isn’t just young people who are driving distracted, since drivers in other age groups don’t lag far behind.

“By driving distracted, you’re losing valuable seconds that you may need to avoid a close call or deadly crash,” said Kimberly Chesser, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “Unfortunately, many people don’t consider distracted driving anywhere near as dangerous as drinking and driving. But OHS wants to correct this misconception to drive home the point of this campaign and help people realize just how serious distracted driving is. The number of distractions is growing all the time, and the consequences of both impaired driving and smartphone use behind the wheel can result in deaths and serious injuries.”

The OHS distracted driving campaign will correspond with two special enforcement periods (April 2–22 and July 15–Aug. 19) being implemented by state and local law enforcement in 2021. OHS is collaborating with several businesses such as cellphone providers, mechanics and gas/convenience stores, and community partners to help deliver the distracted driving awareness message to the public and deliver key messaging directly to the targeted young-male audience. OHS’s campaign strategy will utilize a comprehensive list of communications tactics including digital advertising, paid and organic social media, public relations, grassroots outreach, and the creation of communication toolkits for partnering businesses and organizations. Also, if pandemic guidelines allow, OHS hopes to engage safely with Delawareans at public events during the summer enforcement period.

“Now more than ever, we are faced every day with choices. Some are simple, some more complex. The choices you make when you get in your vehicle should be easy. Make a conscious effort to put your phone down and buckle up when you’re ready to drive. By making this choice, you are choosing to protect yourself and those you care about,” Sarah Cattie, Distracted Driving Program Manager, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

2020 Distracted Driving Delaware Statistics*

  • 37% of drivers involved in distracted driving crashes were between the ages of 20 and 29, with 63% of those being males.
  • 43% of distracted driving crashes resulted in injuries; 12 distracted-driving-related deaths occurred resulting in 11% of the overall fatalities for 2020.
  • Distracted driving crashes occurred most often between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. with Saturday having the highest number of crashes.
  • It takes your brain 13 seconds before it refocuses on the road after looking at a cellphone.
  • If a person takes their eyes off the road for just 5 seconds while driving at just 30 mph, the vehicle will travel approximately 75 yards in an unsafe “distracted” situation.

*Please note, there are pending investigations for 2020 and these are not final statistics for 2020. They are generated from the most recent data available at the time of this press release.

OHS encourages drivers to use the 5-Second Rule Tool, available here, to help them visualize how far their vehicle will travel at any given speed during “just a glance” at a cellphone, radio display, GPS, etc.

Distractions to Avoid

  • Texting or talking on a handheld phone (including speakerphone)
  • Searching for items in a purse or wallet
  • Checking the GPS
  • Watching a crash on the side of the road
  • Changing the radio or music selection
  • Talking with passengers
  • Reaching for an item that has fallen on the floor

According to OHS, the best rule to follow is to prepare everything, from silencing your cellphone to adjusting temperature levels, seat position, and mirrors before getting behind the wheel or starting the engine to prevent distracting temptations.

Key Enforcement Locations

OHS will fund distracted driving enforcement across the state during the special enforcement periods.  An emphasis will be placed on the key locations listed below.

  • DE-4 Newark/Christiana area (between Marrows Road and DE-58)
  • US-40 Bear area (between DE-72 and DE-7)
  • DE-24 Laurel area (between Shiloh Church Road and Curley Drive)
  • Georgetown (town limits)
  • DE-1 Lewes/Rehoboth area (DE-1/Wescoats Road between Savannah Road and Rehoboth Avenue split)

For more information on the campaign, statistics, and education on eliminating distracted driving risks, visit ArriveAliveDE.com/Be-Alert/. 

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 the Delaware Office of Highway Safety on ArriveAliveDE.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.


OHS’s Safe Family Holiday and SoberLift Launch

Campaigns reinforce increased dangers associated with holiday driving during one of the busiest travel times of the year and the importance of safe driving behaviors

DOVER, Del. (Nov. 26, 2019)The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) has announced the launch of its new Safe Family Holiday Campaign with a kick-off event on Monday, November 25. The campaign, which runs through Wednesday, January 1, 2020, reinforces the importance of safe driving habits during one of the busiest travel times of the year. Through a combination of tactics – high visibility enforcement, traditional media, social media, and grassroots efforts partnering with restaurants, businesses, and other traffic safety partners – OHS will educate Delawareans about the increased dangers associated with holiday driving to reduce crashes and fatalities on Delaware roadways during the holiday season.

“Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day is one of the most dangerous periods on Delaware roadways with drivers, passengers, and pedestrians being seriously or fatally injured in crashes,” said Director Kim Chesser, OHS. “Our Safe Family Holiday campaign is a creative awareness, educational, and enforcement campaign that reminds Delawareans of what makes holiday travel so dangerous. Most importantly, it also encourages everyone to drive sober, walk smart, slow down, buckle up and put the phone down. OHS, along with our traffic safety partners, want to bring everyone home safe this holiday season.”

In order to view yesterday’s press event and kick-off for the Safe Family Holiday campaign and SoberLift program launch, please click below:

Safe Family Holiday Statewide Events

Carolers will be on-site at the following prominent community events and locations throughout the state, performing their newest round of holiday favorites with a unique safety-messaging twist. They will be joined by street teams that will encourage those in attendance to pledge responsible driving during the holidays.

  • Saturday, Dec. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Winter WonderFEST2019 in Milton, Delaware
  • Sunday, Dec. 8 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Christmas In Smyrna at the Smyrna Opera House in Smyrna, Delaware
  • Monday, Dec. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Caroling on the Circle in Georgetown, Delaware
  • Saturday, Dec. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware
  • Saturday, Dec. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Dover Mall in Dover, Delaware

Thanksgiving 2019 SoberLift Program – Statewide

In addition to Safe Family Holiday, OHS is pleased to announce its reactivation of the SoberLift program, in partnership with Lyft®, over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, statewide. The program will begin on Wednesday, November 27, at 3 p.m. and run through Sunday, December 1, at 2 a.m., and will provide free Lyft® vouchers* (maximum value of $15) for individuals who want a safe ride during that period. To participate in the program, individuals need to text “SOBERLIFT” to 99000 to redeem the discount code.

Campaign sponsors include: Breakthru Beverage DE, Captain Morgan, Two Stones, Buffalo Wild Wings, Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen, First State Brew Bus, Kelly’s Logan House, Washington Street Ale House/Oyster House, Wilmington Blue Rocks, Delaware Department of Insurance, Dewey Business Partnership, Bluecoast Seafood and Grill Rehoboth, The Starboard, Liquid Alchemy Brewing, and Aloysius Butler & Clark (AB&C).

“Thanksgiving Eve is one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, thus making it one of the most dangerous nights,” adds Chesser. “We want to make sure that everyone arrives alive to their Thanksgiving and post-Thanksgiving celebrations. This is why we are reactivating SoberLift statewide and strongly urge those out celebrating to plan ahead and take advantage of this program.”

Thanksgiving Eve DUI Checkpoint

The Office of Highway Safety is coordinating the 2019 Thanksgiving Eve Checkpoint Strikeforce in each county statewide on November 27, from 10 PM to November 28, at 2 AM. The initiative will reinforce the Safe Family Holiday enforcement and educational campaigns to keep impaired drivers off our roads. Delaware State Police and local law enforcement will be conducting DUI checkpoints in all three counties in the following locations:

  • New Castle County – RT 72 in Newark
  • Kent County – South State Street in Dover
  • Sussex County – SR 1 in Rehoboth Beach 

Safe Family Holiday Enforcements

The annual Safe Family Holiday enforcement period will be ongoing throughout the state from November 25 to January 1 with Delaware State Police and local law enforcement agencies focusing on impaired driving, speed, pedestrian safety, occupant protection, and distracted driving.

Statistics

Recent statistics emphasize why OHS is focusing on these core areas of travel safety during this campaign.

  • DUIs: From January 1 to November 21, 2019, the state of Delaware has seen 3,722 arrests and 18 fatalities related to impaired driving.
  • Speeding: Last year (2018) Delaware had 34 fatalities related to speed.
  • Pedestrians: Over the past 5 years, 145 pedestrians have been killed in traffic crashes; in 2018, 24 pedestrians were killed in crashes on Delaware roadways.
  • Failure to use seatbelts: Last year (2018) 53% of fatalities were unbuckled. 

*The number of daily codes, available between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m., will be limited.

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety by clicking on:

Delaware Office of Highway Safety Web Site

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Contact: Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II & Public Information Officer, Office of Highway Safety | (302) 744-2743 or Cynthia.Cavett@Delaware.Gov.

 

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.


Office of Highway Safety Kicks Off New Safe Family Holiday Campaign & Reactivates SoberLift

Media Advisory: 

November 22, 2019

Initiative reinforces the importance of safe driving behaviors

during one of the busiest times of the year

WHAT:

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is launching its new Safe Family Holiday Campaign, as well as reactivating the SoberLift initiative ahead of Thanksgiving weekend.

Through a combination of tactics – traditional media, social media, and grassroots efforts partnering with restaurants, businesses, and statewide partners – OHS will educate Delawareans about the increased dangers associated with holiday driving to reduce crashes and fatalities on Delaware roadways during the holiday season.  

WHERE:

Iron Hill Brewery

620 Justison Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

https://goo.gl/maps/8s7U5SMVc268v7BL9

WHEN:

Monday, November 25 at 11 a.m.

WHO:

Robert Coupe, Cabinet Secretary of Delaware Department of Safety & Homeland Security

Kim Chesser, Director of Delaware Office of Highway Safety

John Yeomans, Chief of Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement

Dave Ennis, Regional Program Manager of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Representatives from: OHS, Delaware State Police, first responders, corporate partners, government and business leaders

Traffic Safety Carolers

MORE:

The relaunched “Safe Family Holiday” campaign coincides with OHS’s traffic enforcement period running Wednesday, November 27, 2019, through Wednesday, January 1, 2020, and focuses on responsible driving and pedestrian safety during one of the busiest travel times of the year.

Carolers will be on-site at the following prominent community events and locations throughout the state, performing their newest round of holiday favorites with a unique safety-messaging twist. They will be joined by street teams that will encourage passersby to pledge responsible driving.

    • Saturday, Dec. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Winter WonderFEST2019 in Milton, Delaware
    • Sunday, Dec. 8 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Christmas in Smyrna at the Smyrna Opera House in Smyrna, Delaware
    • Monday, Dec. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Caroling on the Circle in Georgetown, Delaware
    • Saturday, Dec. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware
    • Saturday, Dec. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Dover Mall in Dover, Delaware

In addition to Safe Family Holiday, OHS is pleased to announce its reactivation of the SoberLift program, in partnership with Lyft®, over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, statewide. The program will begin on Wednesday, November 27, at 3 p.m. and run through Sunday, December 1, at 2 a.m., and will provide free Lyft® vouchers* (maximum value of $15) for individuals who want a safe ride. To participate in the program, individuals need to text “SOBERLIFT” to 99000 to redeem the discount code.

Campaign sponsors include: Breakthru Beverage DE, Captain Morgan, Two Stones, Buffalo Wild Wings, Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen, First State Brew Bus, Kelly’s Logan House, Washington Street Ale House/Oyster House, Wilmington Blue Rocks, Delaware Department of Insurance, Dewey Business Partnership, Bluecoast Seafood and Grill Rehoboth, The Starboard, Liquid Alchemy Brewing, and Aloysius Butler & Clark (AB&C).

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

CONTACT:  Cynthia Cavett (302) 744-2743 or cynthia.cavett@delaware.gov 

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.

###