Traffic Safety News – Super Bowl XLIX

The Super Bowl is America’s most watched national sporting event. On Super Bowl Sunday, February 1, there will be lots of game day socializing that may include drinking. OHS and law enforcement officials are urging football fans to choose sides now: drinking OR driving.

What you need to know

Did you know last year nearly half of all traffic crashes in Delaware were caused by impaired drivers?   The risk of injury or death is simply too high. Don’t think it could happen to you? Consider these facts about DUI in the first state:

  • Nearly 4,000 people were arrested for Driving Under the Influence in 2014.
  • 23% of DUI arrests occurred between 9 PM and 12 AM. And, a staggering 44% were between 12 AM and 4 AM.
  • 3 out of every 4 drivers arrested for DUI were male.
  • 73% of the people arrested registered a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .13 or higher, well above the legal limit of .08.

What you can do

Drunk driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning. Which side will you choose? Pick your game plan and stick with it!

  • Drinking: For those who plan to drink, leave your keys at home. Designate a sober driver, whether it’s a friend, relative, taxi, or public transportation.
  • Driving: For those who plan to drive, refrain from any alcohol. Instead, enjoy the game with food and non-alcoholic drinks. Being a sober, designated driver is a key role on Super Bowl Sunday. You might just save a life.

If you plan on drinking on Super Bowl Sunday, designate a sober driver to get you home safely. Drink or drive but never do both.

 

Drive Sober. Arrive Alive DE.


Delaware Participates in National Crackdown on Drunk Driving

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Dover– According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), if drunk driving was eliminated more than 10,000 lives would be spared nationally each year. That is why the Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) and law enforcement agencies are participating in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” high-visibility enforcement campaign that is running from August 15 through September 1. There will be increased public awareness and enforcement to send the strong message that drunk driving will not be tolerated. The goal of the campaign is to remind motorists that drinking and driving is dangerous and will not be tolerated.

Increased impaired driving enforcement for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign includes DUI saturation patrols by the following agencies; Blades PD, Bridgeville PD, Camden PD, Clayton PD, Delaware City PD, Dewey Beach PD, Dover PD, Elsmere PD, Felton PD, Georgetown PD, Greenwood PD, Harrington PD, Laurel PD, Lewes PD, Middletown PD, Milford PD, Millsboro PD, Milton PD, New Castle City PD, New Castle County PD, Newark PD, Newport PD, Ocean View PD, Rehoboth Beach PD, Seaford PD, Smyrna PD, Wilmington PD, Wyoming PD, and DSP.

Last year in Delaware, alcohol use was involved 43% of the 96 fatal crashes. Of all the drivers killed last year, 41% were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Currently, Delaware has experienced 28 alcohol related fatal crashes that resulted in 33 lives lost. Last week 72 individuals were arrested for DUI in Delaware bringing the total DUI arrests statewide for 2014 to 2,486.

In addition to the national crackdown, Delaware is currently coordinating the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign to combat impaired driving. Law enforcement agencies are participating in DUI checkpoints each weekend across the state. One DUI checkpoint is scheduled to take place Friday August 16th, in the Seaford area and will be coordinated by the Delaware State Police (DSP).

Across the nation in 2012, 147 drunk-driving fatalities occurred over Labor Day weekend (6 p.m. Friday to 5:59 a.m. Tuesday). To put it in perspective, throughout the year someone is killed in an alcohol-impaired-driving crash every 51 minutes, on average. Over the Labor Day weekend, that statistic jumps to one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 34 minutes. And not surprisingly, nighttime is the worst, with almost half (46%) of all nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) traffic fatalities involving a drunk driver during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

For more information visit www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIrealtime.com and follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe and Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

 

 

 

 

 


Delaware Office of Highway Safety Puts Together a Winning Team at the Monster Mile to Promote Drive Sober

OHS partners with Ben Kennedy Racing, Junior Motorsports, and Tommy Baldwin Racing

Dover – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) has an action packed weekend (Sept. 27-29) at the Monster Mile reminding fans to Drive Sober and Arrive Alive.  On Friday September 27th, OHS is the title sponsor for the ‘Drive Sober 150’ NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with Grand Marshalls- Bill and Muriel Elliott of the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers and Sgt. Andrew Rubin of Newark PD waving the green flag.  OHS is also teamed up with #96 Ben Kennedy and Ben Kennedy Racing for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race in the ‘Drive Sober 150’.

OHS will also be teaming up with #7 Regan Smith of Junior Motorsports Saturday in the ‘5-Hour Energy’ NASCAR Nationwide Series race, and then on Sunday with #36 JJ Yeley of Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) in the ‘AAA 400’ NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.  Race fans will have several opportunities to meet the drivers throughout the weekend including the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver autograph session Friday September 27th from 1-2pm at the Lucas Oil display in the FanZone.  Then OHS will host autograph sessions with #7 Regan Smith of Junior Motorsports at the Drive Sober display Saturday from 10:15 am-11:00 am and on Sunday with #36 JJ Yeley of TBR from 9:30 am- 11:00 am.

OHS will be promoting the Drive Sober message all race weekend with various actives in the Monster Mile Fan Zone including Choose Your Ride police cruiser-cab, designated driver pledges, show cars, and t-shirt giveaways for participants of the DUI Pit Stop Challenge game.

“We are very excited to work with each team and partner this weekend by reminding fans to make the smart choice of choosing a designated driver before the race starts,” said Jana Simpler, Director for the Office of Highway Safety. “That designated driver can be a friend, family member, or a cab ride home.  We want fans to have fun this weekend but also be safe and have a sober ride home.”Choose Your Ride

The Choose Your Ride Delaware State Police (DSP) cruiser-cab will patrol the campgrounds Saturday morning with NASCAR driver JJ Yeley and DSP Sgt. Shavack.  The police cruiser-cab is a custom taxi cab wrap on half of the Delaware State Police patrol car.  The intent is to convey a special message for impaired drivers: choose your ride.  Yeley and Sgt. Shavack will stop and talk with campers about making the smart choice of having a designated driver or calling a cab if fans decide to drink this weekend along with handing out giveaway items and signing autographs.

“Through the continued partnership of the Delaware State Police and The Delaware Office of Highway Safety, we continue to combat and raise awareness of the deadly consequences of drunk driving,” said Sergeant Paul G. Shavack, Director of Public Information for the Delaware State Police.  “We hope that this hybrid police cruiser-cab sends a simple but powerful message and serves as a great visual reminder to “Choose Your Ride” before getting behind the wheel intoxicated.”

Race fans will also have two opportunities to take a pledge to not drive impaired.  The first one is by signing their name on the #36 Drive Sober TBR show car.  Race teams, drivers, and media will also take the pledge in the infield by signing the #36 Drive Sober race car in the Sprint Cup garage.  The second pledge can be taken at the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers tent located next to the OHS FanZone booth.  Fans who take the HERO pledge get special access into the Designated Drivers tent which has 2 tv’s, skydeck, games, snacks, and coupon for a FREE hot dog and soft drink.

For a full list of OHS race weekend activity visit www.ohs.delaware.gov  or follow OHS on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, Like OHS on Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE. For OHS Drive Sober campaign updates visit www.DUIrealtime.com.

 


Traffic Safety News – Driver Behavior Survey

It only takes a few minutes on the highway to know that people drive in all different ways.  Some drive fast.  Some drive slow.  Some choose to follow the rules of the road, while others do not.  Today, OHS is asking …what do you think about the way that you drive?

Get the Facts

Driving is serious business, but for most of us, it has been many years since we sat behind the wheel for the first time. Do you remember the things that you learned in Driver’s Ed class?  Though laws change, the basics of safe driving behavior are the same now as they were then.

  • Buckle Up.  It’s the first thing you should do when you get in the car each and every time.  Day and Night.
  • Drive Sober.   Never get behind the wheel when you are impaired by drugs or alcohol.  Period.
  • Share the Road.  Be aware of what is going on around you.  Look and listen for motorcycles.  And remember to always look twice when changing lanes and pulling out from a stop.
  • Don’t be That Guy.   Don’t turn into the aggressive person who speeds, runs red lights, and weaves through traffic.  Practice patience behind the wheel.  And always obey the posted speed limit and traffic signs.
  • Watch for Pedestrians.  Everywhere you go, keep your eyes open for people walking near the roadway. Never assume that they will wait for you to pass.  Always be ready to stop.

OHS wants to know your views on traffic safety throughout the state by taking this short, anonymous survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OHS2013Survey

As our way of saying “thank you”, you may submit your name and contact information at the end of the survey for a chance to win 2 tickets to one of the 3 races in September at the Monster Mile, OHS Drive Sober team racing apparel (hats, shirts, lanyards, etc.), or tickets to Firefly 2014!

Drive Safe.  Arrive Alive DE.

This message is being sent to you by the Office of Highway Safety, who asks you to drive safely at all times.  For more information on this and other traffic safety programs, go to www.ohs.delaware.gov.  

 


Delaware Office of Highway Safety announces title sponsorship of Sept. 27, 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Dover International Speedway

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

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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.