Office of Highway Safety brings Impaired Driving Awareness to the Centennial Celebration of the

Delaware State Fair

Dover, DE (July 22, 2019) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety has partnered with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain for the fourth year in a row, in the “Use Your Melon, Drive Sober, Arrive Alive DE,” campaign and will be on-site at the Delaware State Fair during its centennial celebration year from Monday, July 22^nd from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, to Tuesday, July 23^rd from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. He’ll be engaging with fans to promote the “Use Your Melon,” campaign and be available for autographs and photo opportunities. The No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro Show Car will be on-site at the OHS booth during all 10 days of the Delaware State Fair. The OHS booth includes an interactive display including games, a selfie station, hero cards, and more. 

“As the Office of Highway Safety celebrates its 50th Anniversary, our staff is braving the extreme temperatures to bring the message of impaired driving dangers to Delaware State Fair attendees. Our focus is not only on the reduction of driving while intoxicated with alcohol but on helping Delawareans understand that driving while impaired also means driving under the influence of drugs including prescription or otherwise,” Christopher Klein, Acting Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

The Dover International Speedway is partnering on-site with the OHS at the fair and is giving away ticket vouchers for the Monster Energy Cup Series race on October 6^th, and ticket vouchers for the Xfinity Series race on October 5^th. The tickets will be distributed throughout the run of the fair through game participation and electronic surveys concerning impaired driving. Also, there is a special VIP grand prize package giveaway that will include tickets to the Sunday race, Meet & Greet with Ross, and a tour of the trailer/garage on Sunday. The Monster Mile is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary and will be hosting many special events throughout the weekend including live music, interactive displays, games, free sampling, and surprises.

“Ross and his team originally approached OHS with the melon campaign messaging based on his family’s farming legacy. He’s an 8^th-generation farmer and a 4^th-generation watermelon farmer. The “Use Your Melon,” campaign’s focus is on impaired driving and its dangers which can include alcohol, recreational drugs, and even prescription medications. In other words, “Use Your Melon,” when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle,” Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist, and Public Information Officer, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

Be on the lookout for over 1 million watermelons throughout the state of Delaware with the “Use Your Melon,” brand stickers on them, plus Carvertise-activated cars that are driving throughout the state through the end of October with the watermelon branding. The “Use Your Melon,” branded vehicles promote the same melon messaging that Ross is promoting for the Office of Highway Safety to hundreds of thousands of motorists, passengers, and pedestrians all summer long. 

This Highway Safety Collaboration in Motorsports in Delaware includes the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, Ross Chastain Racing, Dover International Speedway, JD Motorsports with Gary Keller, Melon 1, and Carvertise.

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

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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.

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney released the following statement on Thursday, noting the economic benefits of the four-day Firefly Music Festival at The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway.

“Firefly brings tens of thousands of visitors to Delaware from every state and dozens of countries,” said Governor Carney. “Not only does the festival have an impressive annual economic impact on the state, it also provides the opportunity to leave visitors, many of them first-time, with a great impression of Delaware and a desire to explore its endless discoveries beyond The Woodlands. I’m pleased to welcome the artists, vendors and fans. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable weekend.”

Visit Delaware invites festival attendees to stop by the beach volleyball courts in the Northeast Hub and experience fun statewide attractions during and after Firefly.

With the increase in visitors in and around Dover, residents and visitors are encouraged to use DelDOT’s Smartphone application for up-to-the-minute traffic conditions and to adjust their routes. The DelDOT App is available and can be downloaded free at the Google Play and App Store, search for “DelDOT.” WTMC 1380 AM is also available through the DelDOT App.

Download the free DelDOT app:

App Store: https://goo.gl/OucvFY
Google Play Store: https://goo.gl/dpHCMm

For more information, visit:

Firefly Music Festival’s website at www.fireflyfestival.com
Delaware Tourism’s website at www.visitdelaware.com
DelDOT’s website at www.deldot.gov
Dover International Speedway’s website at www.doverspeedway.com

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‘Drive Sober 150’ presented by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety to promote safe driving throughout race weekend

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety and Dover International Speedway have announced a new partnership that will see the state office become the title sponsor for the newly branded “Drive Sober 150” NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race, which takes the green flag at 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27.

Throughout the Sept. 27-29, 2013 race weekend at the Monster Mile, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) will promote traffic safety, with a special focus on the dangers of impaired driving and the importance of not getting behind the wheel while under the influence.

“This fall we are excited to expand our Drive Sober campaign with the sponsorship of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race,” said Jana Simpler, director for the Office of Highway Safety. “Our partnerships with Dover International Speedway and NASCAR teams have helped to share our messaging with a dynamic audience we otherwise could not have reached on our own. We are thankful for the partnerships and support we receive from the Speedway and the racing community.”

The OHS presence isn’t a new one at the Speedway, as it has been a track partner with a large interactive exhibit in the track’s FanZone on race weekend, promoting everything from the importance of buckling your seat belt to driving sober. Planned activities at the race this year include driver autograph sessions, a Designated Driver tent, games using fatal vision goggles and much more.

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety has also previously served as the primary sponsor on J.J. Yeley’s No. 36 Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) Chevrolet, and will continue to partner with TBR in the “AAA 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sept. 29. OHS is also expanding its partnerships to include primary sponsorship of Ben Kennedy in the No. 96 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet for the “Drive Sober 150” NASCAR K&N Pro East Series race, and Regan Smith in the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet for the Sept. 28 NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

“We’re thrilled to have the Delaware Office of Highway Safety promoting this very important message throughout race weekend,” said Michael Tatoian, executive vice president and COO of Dover Motorsports, Inc. “The Office of Highway Safety does so much great work in our state to make our roadways safer, and the ‘Drive Sober 150’ gives them the chance to spread that message on a national level too.”

The Friday, Sept. 27 “Drive Sober 150” presented by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race kicks off a tripleheader weekend of action at the Speedway, followed by the Saturday, Sept. 28 NASCAR Nationwide Series race and Sunday, Sept. 29 “AAA 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the third event in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

For tickets or more information, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com. You can also keep up with the Monster Mile at Facebook.com/DoverInternationalSpeedway or on Twitter at @MonsterMile.  Follow OHS on Twitter @DEHighwaySafe or on Facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

DOVER (May 17, 2013) – With the roar of full-sized NASCAR racers in the background, more than 80 middle and junior high school students from 10 schools participated in Delaware’s 19^th Annual Junior Solar Sprint Competition on Wednesday, May 15 near the Monster Monument at Dover International Speedway. DNREC’s Division of Energy and Climate organized the event to educate students about renewable energy and the environment through a creative and exciting competition.

Students designed and built model cars powered by solar photovoltaic cells and competed for trophies and the honor of having the fastest and best-designed cars in the state.

This year, the checkered flag went to Beacon Middle School in Lewes for the fastest car, while Caravel Academy in Bear took first place for best design. 

Participating schools also included: Holy Cross School, Dover; Milford Middle School and Milford Academy, Milford; Providence Creek Academy and Smyrna Middle School, Smyrna; Sanford School, Hockessin; Skyline Middle School and Springer Middle School, Wilmington; plus Smyrna Boys & Girls Club.

“Photovoltaic technology makes use of the abundant energy from the sun,” said Crystal Nagyiski, Solar Sprint event coordinator, DNREC Division of Energy and Climate. “We use photovoltaic technology as solar cells to power our watches and calculators, but solar power can do much more – by providing electricity for transportation and to heat and cool our homes and businesses. A solar electric panel provides a reliable, abundant and environmentally-smart source of energy.”  

Solar technologies diversify the energy supply, reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuels, improve air quality, and offset greenhouse gas emissions. A growing solar industry also stimulates our economy by creating jobs in solar products manufacturing and installation. 

The event included many of the same highlights and challenges of racing full-sized racecars, including a rain delay. Racers also competed in time trials and test runs prior to the start of the competition, and pit crews came equipped with spare parts for possible repairs. 

At the end of the day, the winning schools were:

Race Results: Fastest car

1^st place: Beacon Middle School, Lewes – Car #18

2^nd place: Skyline Middle School, Wilmington – Car #5

3^rd place: Springer Middle School, Wilmington – Car #1

4^th place: Skyline Middle School, Wilmington – Car #6 

Best Design:

1st place: Caravel Academy, Bear – Car #17

2^nd place: Holy Cross School, Dover – Car #15

3^rd place: Springer Middle School, Wilmington – Car #2

4^th place: Springer Middle School, Wilmington – Car #1

5^th place: Milford Middle School, Milford – Car #11

For more information on solar and other alternative sources of energy and the programs of the Delaware Division of Energy and Climate, visit www.energy.dnrec.delaware.gov.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No. 205

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