The Results are in for the July 2, 2021, Statewide Checkpoint Activation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Cynthia Cavett, Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

 The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is once again implementing a multi-tiered strategy to encourage responsible driving behaviors and, ultimately, create safer roadways throughout Delaware during the Fourth of July holiday. The OHS SoberLift program, presented in partnership with Lyft®, will be activated in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, and Ocean View nightly from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. beginning Thursday, July 1 and continuing through Monday, July 5, ending at 2:00 a.m.

A key component of the campaign is the opportunity for individuals to receive free Lyft® vouchers* enabling them to “ride sober.” A discount code for a maximum $15 Lyft® value can be redeemed by texting “SOBERLIFT” to 99000. The Lyft® opportunity works hand in hand with a robust communications campaign throughout the Delaware beaches over the holiday weekend, and DUI checkpoints implemented by state and local law enforcement statewide (see below for dates and locations).

“The Fourth of July is about coming together and celebrating what unites us. Sadly, it is also an all-too-often deadly time on Delaware roads.  Before you head out for your celebrations, remember to plan ahead and arrange for a sober ride home,” Kimberly Chesser, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.  “Deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired driving are preventable, and too many lives are tragically cut short in traffic crashes involving alcohol- and drug-impaired driving.”

Throughout the July Fourth SoberLift initiative, OHS will engage in a steady stream of messaging that encourages drivers and passengers to understand the risks and potential consequences of driving while impaired and to plan for a sober ride before the celebration begins. To achieve its goals, OHS will be communicating with the community through print and digital advertising; social media; table tents, posters, and sandwich boards in public areas, restaurants, and retailers throughout Delaware beach towns, in addition to public relations efforts. OHS encourages drivers to use its recently launched Arrive Alive DE Impaired Driving Simulator — available at arrivealivede.com/drive-sober—a first-of-its-kind augmented reality tool to help website visitors see the potential effects of impairment on driving. The “drive sober” website page also houses the new BAC Calculator tool to help website visitors understand the different levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) which refers to the percentage of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream. In Delaware, a person is legally intoxicated if they have a BAC of 0.08% or higher.

Additional support will come from community partners helping to distribute educational materials and influence the unique community they serve. Most notably, the State of Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement will be distributing SoberLift materials to bars and restaurants in beach communities as well as engaging staff and other groups in discussion of ways they can impact positive behavior by, for example, adhering to over-pouring regulations.

“The SoberLift program allows the Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement the opportunity to work with our partners at Delaware Office of Highway Safety in promoting positive behavior by beach area bars and restaurants and helping to ensure our citizens and Delaware roadways are safer during the holiday weekend,” Chief John A. Yeomans, Delaware Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement.

Sponsors of this SoberLift program include Breakthru Beverage DE, Captain Morgan, Two Stones, Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen, First State Brew Bus, Washington Street Ale House/Oyster House, Dewey Business Partnership, Bluecoast Seafood, and Grill Rehoboth, The Starboard, Liquid Alchemy Brewing, and Aloysius Butler & Clark (AB&C).

“Since 2018, over 1,200 people across Delaware have used OHS’s SoberLift program during Fourth of July, and other periods prone to higher incidence rates for DUI arrests and crashes rather than possibly drive home impaired. The campaign is a success due to these people making the responsible decision to make a plan for a sober ride home before the celebrating begins,” Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II & Public Information Officer, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

July 4^th DUI Checkpoints Activated Statewide

Three sobriety checkpoints are scheduled for the upcoming holiday weekend beginning Friday, July 2 at 10 p.m. and continuing into Saturday, July 3 at 2 a.m. The checkpoints are part of a weekend-long mobilization educating Delawareans to secure a sober ride home before starting their celebration festivities.

The following are the scheduled checkpoint locations for the holiday weekend:

• New Castle County – Route 72 near Newark
• Kent County – U.S. 13 near Dover
• Sussex County – State Route 24 near Millsboro

The Independence Day holiday DUI checkpoint activation will include sixty-six law enforcement officers from fifteen local, county, and municipal police agencies in addition to Delaware State Police. At least one Drug Recognition Enforcement (DRE) officer will be part of the checkpoint activation in each county. The checkpoint locations are in targeted areas known to have a high number of DUI arrests and crashes including both injuries and fatalities.

OHS reminds drivers and passengers that in addition to alcohol and illegal drugs, medications prescribed by a healthcare provider and even some over-the-counter drugs can impair driving and may carry severe penalties.

Impaired Driving Statistics for Delaware

Over the period of 5 years from 2016-2020, drivers between the ages of 35 to 44 have shown the highest numbers of DUI crashes, with drivers 20 to 29 trailing behind. In the age-gender groups, it seems that age 20-29 and 35-44 males are the biggest contributors to this trend. Saturday typically has the highest number of DUI-related crashes, followed closely by Sunday for the 5-year average. The times where DUI-related crashes occur the most are:

• Friday 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
• Saturday 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
• Sunday 12 a.m. – 3 a.m.
• Saturday 12 a.m. – 3 a.m.

Over the July Fourth holiday weekend in 2020 (July 2 – 5, 2020):

• 52 DUI arrests were made over the holiday period (July 2 – 5, 2020)
• 24 DUI-related crashes resulted in:
  • 13 injuries
  • 4 fatalities

For more information, visit https://www.arrivealivede.com/drive-sober/.

*The number of daily SoberLift codes available will be limited.

Media Contact:

AB&C, Jenn Buchman, JBuchman@abcreative.com

DOHS, Cynthia Cavett, Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

DATE, Jason Atallian, Jason.Atallian@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. Follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety on ArriveAliveDE.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist & Public Information Officer

Delaware Office of Highway Safety

Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

302-744-2743

DUI Initiative Running From July 3rd Through July 7th

DOVER, De. (July 1, 2019) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is pleased to announce that it is reactivating its SoberLift program, in partnership with Lyft^®, for the second consecutive year over the Fourth of July holiday to Delaware’s beach resort community.

The program will begin on Wednesday, July 3, at 4 p.m. and run through Sunday, July 7, at 2 a.m., and will provide free Lyft^® vouchers* (maximum value of $15) for individuals who want a safe ride during that time period. To participate in the program, individuals need to text “SoberLift” to 99000 to redeem the discount code. It will be available in Delaware beach towns: Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, South Bethany Beach, and Fenwick Island.

“Delaware continues to see far too many tragedies caused by impaired driving especially at the beaches during the July 4^th holiday weekend, “Richard Klepner, Impaired Driving Program Manager, Office of Highway Safety. “It is critical for people to understand the negative consequences of driving under the influence, and we’re thankful to our partners for providing funding to allow Delawareans to plan ahead for a safe ride home.”

Throughout the state from 2014 to 2018, 4^th of July weekend saw 53 DUI-related crashes and five DUI-related fatalities. Reports indicate that DUI crashes occur between 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Delaware beaches. This region – east of DE-1 between Dewey Beach, northern limits and Old Mill Pond Bridge – also lead the state with 46 DUI-related crashes in 2018.

Street teams will be present ahead of the holiday weekend, handing out vouchers for SoberLift codes, as well as promoting the program at local bars, restaurants, and other local businesses. Campaign sponsors include: Breakthru Beverage DE, Allstate, 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, Grain, Liquid Alchemy Brewing, Aloysius Butler & Clark (AB&C) and Deardorff.

Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist and Public Information Officer for OHS adds, “We’ve said it before and we will say it again, just one impaired driver can negatively impact the lives of so many people. So while we encourage all Delawareans to have fun, make sure you make safe choices. Utilize our ridesharing program SoberLift, and Arrive Alive this holiday weekend.”

In addition, OHS is partnering with the Delaware State Police and local law enforcement for the national summer holiday campaign for Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over from July 4 – July 7, 2019, to put an end to drunk driving. In support of law enforcement’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see increased enforcement on the roads with zero tolerance for those who drive impaired.

*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

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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.

Campaign Launches Before July 4th Holiday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist & Public Information Officer

Delaware Office of Highway Safety

Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

302-744-2743

DOVER, De. (July 1, 2019) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is partnering with the Delaware State Police and local law enforcement statewide for the national summer holiday campaign for Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over from July 4 – July 7, 2019, to put an end to drunk driving. In support of law enforcement’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see increased enforcement on the roads with zero tolerance for those who drive impaired.

“We want to be very clear about the consequences of driving while intoxicated,” said Christopher Klein, Acting Director Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “Intoxicated driving is illegal and potentially deadly, and a risk we don’t want to see people take. Make no mistake: If you are caught driving while intoxicated, you will be arrested.”

During the 2014 to 2018 Fourth of July holiday period in Delaware, there were 53 DUI-related crashes. Five people were killed in those crashes which involved at l

east one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. That’s five families who will forever remember Independence Day with a heavy heart and nightmarish memories.

Celebrate with a Plan

This Fourth of July, drivers are urged to designate a sober driver before heading out for the evening. If you plan on drinking, plan on not driving.

Remember these tips for a safe night on the roads:

• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
• Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, available on Google Play for Android devices and Apple’s iTunes Store for iOS devices.
  • SaferRide allows users to call a taxi or a predetermined friend and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up.
• If you’re at the Delaware beaches over the holiday weekend, use SoberLift to get a safe ride home. In partnership with Lyft®, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety is offering the sober ride program which will begin on Wednesday, July 3, at 4 p.m. and run through Sunday, July 7, at 2 a.m., and will provide free SoberLift vouchers* (maximum value of $15) for individuals who want a safe ride during that time period.
  • Text “SoberLift” to 99000 to redeem the discount code which will be available in the beach towns of Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, South Bethany Beach, and Fenwick Island.
  • *The number of daily codes, available between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m., will be limited.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
• Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

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.