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 27^th, 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 27^th 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.”

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.

The Delaware State Police continue to plan and make preparations for the possible arrival of TS/Hurricane Sandy. We are working with all local and state agencies to monitor and assess the most current weather forecasts as to determine potential issues which may negatively impact the motoring public, and to establish the most efficient means to mitigate any preventable problems.

The Delaware State Police are urging the public to exercise caution during Tropical Storm/Hurricane Sandy. Prior to the storm, make sure to store drinking water, canned food and nonperishable items; secure your pets indoors and any loose items around homes (as they travel onto the roadways and impede traffic); have vehicles in good working order with sufficient fuel; and adhere to advisories issued by authorities.

Additional safety tips include:

Stay Put- Avoid driving in heavy storms unless absolutely necessary. Often, injuries and deaths occur during and in the aftermath of such storms. Sightseers impeding roadways cause obstacles for emergency personnel responding to those in need.

Slow Down– Decrease your vehicle speed during inclement weather to avoid hydroplaning and to account for increased stopping time. Periods of heavy rain may necessitate traveling at speeds below the posted speed limits.

Be cautious of high winds – Windy conditions adversely affect all vehicles, particularly high profile vehicles, such as buses and trucks, as well as smaller vehicles such as motorcycles. Gusty wind makes driving difficult, especially when it is rapidly changing in speed and direction.

Pay attention. – You may come up on an intersection that is no longer controlled by a functioning traffic control device. If a law enforcement officer is directing traffic, follow their directions. Otherwise, treat the intersection as you would treat an intersection governed by a four-way stop sign.