DelDOT Reminds Public to Travel Safely this Holiday Weekend

As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, DelDOT is reminding the public to expect crowded roads as AAA projects more than 42 million people nationally will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend.

“Thousands of people will be visiting Delaware’s beaches and parks or traveling to see family and friends and we encourage everyone to put safety first whether traveling by car, bike, or on foot,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski.

There have been 63 fatalities on Delaware roads to date this year, an increase of nearly 10 percent from the same time last year. In 2022, there were three fatalities on Delaware roads over Memorial Day weekend and more than 100 people were injured because of crashes.

The Delaware State Police will be actively enforcing traffic laws throughout the holiday weekend. Motorists should anticipate more traffic volume on the roads and buckle up, slow down, drive sober and attentively and be cautious for motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Motorcyclists and bicyclists should wear helmets and follow the rules of the road, and pedestrians should only cross roads at designated areas and wear reflective items if walking at night.

Travelers looking to take a break can visit the Biden Welcome Center on I-95 in Newark and the Chauncey O. Simpson Memorial Rest Area adjacent to Route 1 and Route 13 in Smyrna which will both be open to visitors.

At the Delaware Beaches, DART First State’s Beach Bus routes are now operating daily with increased frequencies, early morning to late night, through Sunday, Sept. 10. The routes serve Rehoboth Beach and the Rehoboth boardwalk, Lewes, Long Neck, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Ocean City, Md., Millsboro, and Georgetown. All buses are ADA-accessible and equipped with bike racks. Information on these the Beach Bus routes can be found here.


Memorial Day Ceremonial Events

The Office of Veterans Services (OVS) and the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs (DCVA) have scheduled two events in observance of Memorial Day.

As in previous years, OVS and DCVA will host ceremonies on separate days. The first will take place on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Ceremony in Bear, Delaware. The second will take place on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the Delaware War Memorial Day Plaza in New Castle. Both events will honor fallen servicemembers who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Visitors with accessibility accommodation needs are encouraged to register for assistance by contacting Miranda Mal at the Office of Veterans Services via email at Miranda.mal@delaware.gov or phone at 302-257-3120. Requests should be submitted by Friday, May 26, 2023, to ensure support is in place.

Saturday, May 27, 2023

What: Memorial Day Ceremony

When: Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

Where: New Castle County Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd., Bear, DE 19701

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

What: Memorial Day Ceremony

When: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.

Where: War Memorial Plaza, 163 Cherry Lane, New Castle, DE 19720


Memorial Day Ceremonial Events

The Office of Veterans Services and the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs have scheduled two events in observance of Memorial Day.

As in previous years, OVS and the Commission will host ceremonies on separate days. The first will take place on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Day Cemetery in Bear. The second will take place on Monday, May 30, 2022, at the Delaware War Memorial Plaza in New Castle. Both will honor the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

What: Memorial Day Ceremony
When: Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: New Castle County Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd., Bear, DE 19701

 

Monday, May 30, 2022

What: Memorial Day Ceremony

Who: 

  • Governor John Carney
  • Governor Bethany Hall-Long
  • U.S. Senator Tom Carper
  • U.S. Senator Chris Coons
  • Secretary of State Jeff Bullock
  • Attorney General Kathy Jennings
  • State Treasurer Colleen Davis
  • Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro
  • State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness
  • Deputy Secretary of State Kris Knight
  • Delaware Veterans Affairs Commission
  • Wilmington Veterans Affairs Healthcare Director Vince Kane
  • Office of Veterans Services Executive Director Josh Matticks
  • Delaware Veterans Home Administrator Carol Erhart
  • Members of the Delaware General Assembly

When: Monday, May 30, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.

Where: War Memorial Plaza, 163 Cherry Lane, New Castle, DE 19720

RSVP: Contact Jennifer Jensen at Jennifer.Jensen@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 257-3120.

Livestream: To view the livestream, click here.

The mission of the Delaware Office of Veterans Services (OVS), an agency of the Delaware Department of State, is to support veterans living in the First State and their families. OVS assists with access to services and benefits that veterans have earned through their military service, including disability compensation, employment, housing and more.


Beach Restrictions To Be Lifted, Visitor Numbers Limited In State Parks For Memorial Day Weekend

Delawareans will resume activities such as swimming and sunbathing on Delaware State Park beaches for Memorial Day weekend, with existing restrictions on beaches being lifted by the Governor effective Friday, May 22 at 5 p.m. Out-of-state visitors who have maintained a 14-day quarantine since entering the state are also allowed to resume activity on Delaware beaches.

Since March, beach activities had been limited to exercising, dog-walking and restricted surf fishing as part of precautions against the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Adequate social distancing on the beaches remain a concern and will be closely monitored as the restrictions are modified. 

To carry out Gov. Carney’s phased reopening of Delaware beaches, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced the following for state parks:

Current restrictions on beach activity will be lifted starting 5 p.m. on Friday, May 22. Sunbathing, swimming, picnicking, surfing, kayaking, walk-on surf fishing and other activities will be allowed to resume for Delawareans and for those from out-of-state who have quarantined 14 days.

At least 6-foot distance will be required on beaches among those from different households, and groups of visitors from the same household may be no larger than 10. Masks or face coverings are encouraged to be worn on beaches.

Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore and Fenwick Island state parks will have capacity limits – between 50 and 70% of parking spaces – that will be enforced at entrances and with closure of parking spaces.

Visitors must bring face coverings, such as masks or bandanas, with them when entering state parks. Within state parks, face coverings must be worn in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as in bathhouses, park offices, concession buildings, boat docks, and trails and paths where others are present.

Beach-area bathrooms and bathhouses will open May 22. Most bathrooms in other state parks around the state will also open, but some will remain closed due to distancing/cleaning considerations.

Cleaning services will be increased to multiple times per day at all open bathrooms and bathhouses.

For surf fishing, the emergency limit on number of persons per vehicle will be lifted and now only one person will need to be actively fishing. But 20-foot distancing between vehicles will be required and drive-on beaches may be closed by officers to additional vehicles when the carrying capacity to implement social distancing is not possible.

State Park offices will open Thursday, May 21, and will require credit cards for purchases. Face masks must be worn when entering park offices.

Visitors are encouraged to purchase Annual Passes to avoid anticipated delays for daily entrance payments. 

Annual Pass and Surf-Fishing Permit sales resume availability at all park offices starting Thursday, and are available online at destateparks.com.

Daily park entrance fees will only be collected via the automated credit card machines or self-registration envelopes provided at park entrances for those without annual passes or permits.

Camping and pavilion reservations at all state parks have been canceled through May 31. Full refunds will be issued, and no further action is required by the customer. Should the Governor’s state of emergency closure of camping be extended beyond June 1, further cancellations will occur at that time.

State park daily entrance fees for vehicles registered in Delaware are $4 at inland parks and $5 at ocean parks. Fees for out-of-state vehicles are $8 at inland parks and $10 at ocean parks. Annual park entrance passes are $35 for Delawareans and $70 for out-of-state, with discounted rates for military and for those on state or federal assistance, including those on unemployment. For information on pass and permit fees, go to destateparks.com/Know/passestagsfees.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Shauna McVey, shauna.mcvey@delaware.gov or Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov.


DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police advise: Don’t drink and boat on Delaware waterways

DOVER – For a safer Memorial Day holiday weekend, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters that drinking and boating don’t mix. Boat operators who have consumed alcohol put themselves, their passengers, and other boaters in Delaware waters at risk, and boat operators found with blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher will face charges for operating under the influence (OUI) in violation of Delaware and federal laws.

Marine patrols are increased over the holiday weekend to ensure safe boating and public safety. Boat operators found at or above the legal limit will find their voyage terminated, will be arrested, and may have their vessel impounded. Anyone charged with boating under the influence also can face fines and potential jail time.

According to national statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol use is a leading known contributing factor to fatal boating accidents. In 2017, the most recent year for which U.S. Coast Guard statistics are available, In 2017, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 275 boat accidents involved alcohol use, resulting in 102 deaths and 227 injuries nationally.

The best way to minimize the risk of an accident is to make the wiser choice – don’t drink and boat. Environmental stressors aboard a boat – such as constant motion, heat, sun glare, and dehydration – all contribute to the negative effects of any amount of alcohol. Because of this, having a non-drinking, designated boat operator is strongly recommended.

Other tips for recreational boaters to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend include:

  • Make sure children 12 and younger wear life jackets while underway as required by law.
  • Wear your life jacket and encourage all your passengers 13 and older to also wear them.
  • Observe all “Slow No Wake” areas.
  • Maintain a lookout and keep a safe distance from other vessels.
  • Check navigation lights and make sure to turn them on when operating at night.
  • Carry your boating education card and all required safety equipment appropriate for your size vessel.
  • Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards are considered vessels, and passengers are required to have a life jacket on board and carry a whistle or other sound-producing device. If you are out after sunset, a flashlight is also required.

For access to the online Delaware Boating Handbook and other safe boating information, visit the Delaware Boating Safety web pages, or contact Delaware Boating Safety & Education Coordinator Sgt. Brooke Mitchell at 302-739-9913 or brooke.mitchell@delaware.gov.

Media Contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-382-7167, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.