Sharon Bryson, former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board, has joined the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) to lead its Office of Highway Safety.

This week, the Department announced Sharon as the new Office of Highway Safety Director, replacing former Director Kimberly Chesser, who retired earlier this year.

Most recently, Sharon served as a Social Services Senior Administrator for the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA). Prior to DEMA, Sharon had a long and distinguished career with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, D.C.  During her 24-plus years of service with NTSB, she held several management positions, retiring as the Managing Director of the agency.

“I’m confident that Sharon is the right person to lead our Office of Highway Safety, especially as we grapple with an increasing number of highway fatalities. Her extensive experience and background with national transportation safety will be beneficial as we continue to address concerns around occupant safety, speeding, impaired driving, and preventive highway safety programs,” said Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen, Jr.”

As the Managing Director, Sharon was responsible for the oversight of multiple major accident investigations with significant public interest from initial response through report completion, including a Tesla investigation in Williston, FL. an Uber investigation in Tempe, AZ, a helicopter investigation in Calabasas, CA., and the Merrimack Valley Pipeline explosion in Massachusetts.

Sharon also coordinated agency efforts to improve safety through its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. As Managing Director, Sharon, led a staff of 420 and oversaw a budget of $118 million.

The Department’s Office of Highway Safety fulfills its mission through a variety of public information and enforcement efforts aimed at reducing the number of crashes on Delaware roads. In addition, OHS serves as a clearinghouse for highway safety information in the State.

Governor John Carney has proclaimed May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) along with the Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) encourages motorcyclists to ride smart and ride safely through education and awareness.

Every year from April through November, DMV offers six motorcycle safety courses for various skill levels, including an instructor-level course for those interested in becoming a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) RiderCoach.

Course benefits include professional training and up to 15% off your motorcycle liability insurance. Plus, upon course completion graduates are exempt from taking DMV motorcycle endorsement knowledge and road testing for up to six months.

Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski commented, “Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to crashes, and as motorists, we need to be extra cautious, especially during warmer weather, and remember to share the road.”

“Our motorcycle safety courses teach riders so many skills, but the ultimate goal is for graduates to utilize everything they learn every time they go out for a ride. By working together, we can make our roadways safer for all,” said DMV Director Jana Simpler.

Anyone who successfully completes a DMV Rider Safety Course in 2023 will be automatically entered to win a four-digit motorcycle license plate. Two drawings will be held: one on July 21, 2023, for those who successfully complete a course from March 17, 2023 to July 16, 2023, and another on November 18, 2023, for those who successfully complete a course from July 17, 2023, through November 12, 2023. Winners will receive an email alerting them how to obtain their tag.

For a list of available courses or enrollment details, CLICK HERE, visit dmv.de.gov and search on motorcycle courses, email motorcyclecourse@delaware.gov, or contact the below for more information:

New Castle County – 302-832-5163
Kent County – 302-744-2658
Sussex County – 302-853-1030

Last year, 22 motorcyclists were killed on Delaware roadways. As of Monday, May 8, 2023, four motorcyclists have been killed. Always use caution while operating a vehicle or motorcycle. Look twice at intersections, don’t tailgate, and eliminate distractions, for more motorcycle safety tips for both riders and motorists visit arrivealivede.com.

State Crash Data Now Available to Public Through Open Data Portal

Searching Delaware crash data is now as easy and convenient as logging on to the State’s Open Data Portal.

“The crash data portal helps us give drivers the information they want and it is our hope that with this information, our citizens will be equipped to make safer decisions behind the wheel. We know an informed driver is a safer driver,” said Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen, Jr.

While the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) is responsible for statewide crash data collection and dissemination, this project resulted from collaboration and partnership with several state agencies including the Office of Highway Safety, Delaware State Police, DelDOT, Dept. of Technology and Information, DelJIS and the Delaware Police Chiefs Council.

“Delaware continues to have far too many crashes in our state and sadly we had the most road fatalities in more than 30 years last year,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “This new information portal helps us all continue to work toward making our roads safer.”

Making crash data available through the portal allows the public to engage in interactive analysis and data exploration. Those evaluating or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites or hazardous roadway conditions will find the dashboard useful as it is updated monthly and contains crashes that occurred since 2009 through six months ago.

Through the portal, users can filter crash data and visualize the data in charts, graphs and maps. In addition, applied filters are reflected in dashboard elements. An embedded table within the dashboard allows users to export the data, as filter or the entire dataset.

Work on this project began more than three years ago when Sen. Stephanie Hansen sponsored a bill to expand the Department’s ability to publicly share crash data.

A crash report is a summary of information collected about a collision and is filled out by a Delaware law enforcement officer who is investigating the crash.

“The Office of Highway Safety is pleased to be a part of the collaboration with our traffic safety partners to make crash data accessible to the public through the Open Data Portal,” said Kimberly Chesser, Director of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “The portal is another great tool that is vital to the Office of Highway Safety’s mission of identifying and addressing traffic safety priorities. Additionally, the portal will enhance our partnerships with community organizations, businesses and sub-grantee participants who share our mission in traffic safety.”

Additional crash information and data is made available in the Office of Highway Safety’s annual reports (https://ohs.delaware.gov/reports.shtml), the Office of Highway Safety’s annual safety plan (https://ohs.delaware.gov/reports.shtml), and the Delaware State Police Traffic Statistical Reports  (https://dsp.delaware.gov/reports/).

MEDIA CONTACT:
Arshon Howard
Cell: (302) 922-0186
Arshon.Howard@delaware.gov

Governor John Carney has proclaimed May as Motorcycle Awareness Month and the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in support of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety’s (OHS) Motorcycle Safety campaign, urges both motorists and motorcyclists to create a safer ride through education and awareness.

Motorcyclists of all skill levels, both novice and advanced can enroll in a DMV Motorcycle Safety Course. Beginner course benefits include professional training, 10% off your motorcycle liability insurance, exemption from taking the DMV road test and graduates automatically get a license to ride. Advanced course benefits include professional training and 15% off your motorcycle liability insurance.

Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski commented, “We continue to stress the need for increased safety awareness on our roads for all modes of transportation. With the arrival of warm weather, more motorcycles will be on the roads and over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Regardless of how you choose to travel, safety should be everyone’s top priority.”

“Whether it’s your first time on a motorcycle or you’ve been riding for years, please enroll in one of our courses,” urged Director of the Delaware DMV Jana Simpler. “The combination of classroom and road training will not only make you a better driver but will also help reduce the likelihood of a mishap.”
For a list of available courses or enrollment details CLICK HERE, visit dmv.de.gov and search on motorcycle courses, e-mail motorcyclecourse@delaware.gov or contact the below for more information:

Beginner Rider Program
New Castle County – 302-832-5163
Kent County – 302-744-2658
Sussex County – 302-853-1030

Experienced Rider Program
New Castle – 302-862-5163
Kent – 302-744-2658
Sussex – 302-853-1030

In 2021, 24 motorcyclists were killed on a Delaware roadway. This year 3 motorcyclists have died. Even if you are not a motorcyclist, always look twice at intersections, don’t tailgate motorcycles, and eliminate distractions while driving. For more motorcycle safety tips visit https://www.youtube.com/user/delawaredmv. For information on all programs offered by the DMV CLICK HERE or visit DMV.de.gov and click on Driver Services.

High Visibility Enforcement Against Impaired Driving Scheduled for
March 11-21 in Maryland and Delaware Along US 13 and US 113

DOVER, DE (March 12, 2021) – This year St. Patrick’s Day may look a little different as Delaware continues to stress social distancing and COVID-19 precautions. But for those planning to celebrate with family and friends, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office, and local law enforcement want to make sure they stay safe by driving sober or making a plan for a sober ride home.

For the fourth year, more than 20 transportation and law enforcement agencies from Delaware and Maryland will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints along the 145 miles of US 13 (Ocean Highway) and nearly 75 miles of US 113 (Worcester Highway) on the Delmarva Peninsula beginning Thursday, March 11, and continuing through Sunday, March 21. St. Patrick’s Day is Wednesday, March 17.

In Delaware, the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) will also partner with additional agencies statewide for this year’s high visibility enforcement focused along the US 13 corridor. Last year during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, a total of 102 arrests for impaired driving were made statewide in Delaware.

Coinciding with high-visibility enforcement efforts, Delaware’s Office of Highway Safety will share the Be Driven Not to Drive campaign through a variety of platforms throughout the state including billboards, English and Spanish print media, social media platforms, music streaming services, and television/online streaming services. The campaign combines visible tactics with a publicity strategy to educate the public and promote safe driving behaviors in compliance with the law.

“Partnering with Maryland allows our efforts to be amplified as we combat impaired driving during this holiday period,” said Delaware OHS Deputy Director Richard Klepner. “OHS will partner with law enforcement throughout Delaware with increased visibility and presence on our roadways. There’s no excuse to drink and drive. Even one can be too many. Plan ahead to have a sober ride.”

In anticipation of the St. Patrick’s Day DUI enforcement and campaign initiatives, OHS has launched a first-of-its-kind digital tool called the Arrive Alive DE Visualizer DUI-Involved Crash Tool to share information with Delawareans and visitors on crash locations and educate website visitors to drive sober. Housed on the Arrive Alive DE website, this 5-year snapshot of DUI-involved crashes shows the concentration of crashes across the state through an interactive heat map.

In addition to the Arrive Alive DE Visualizer DUI-Involved Crash Tool, OHS has launched other versions of the digital tool for occupant protection and pedestrian safety. The Arrive Alive DE Visualizer is designed to educate drivers and pedestrians to help save lives in Delaware and Arrive Alive to their destination. Visit ArriveAliveDE.com to explore this digital tool and more on highway safety education in Delaware.

“Impaired driving is never the right choice so if you do plan to go out, be sure to plan ahead for a sober ride home,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “Every year, families lose loved ones to impaired driving crashes. It’s up to each of us to prevent these tragedies from occurring.”

In 2019, 535 people were killed on Maryland’s roadways and one-third of those deaths involved someone impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. During last year’s enforcement effort, participating agencies issued 703 citations in Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester counties – including 205 for speeding – and made 18 arrests for impaired driving.

To coincide with the high visibility enforcement, the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office will also share Be the Make A Plan Driver and Be the Sober Driver messages on a variety of social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Additional information on Maryland’s Be the Driver campaign can be found here.

More information on Delaware’s Be Driven Not to Drive campaign is available here.

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.

About the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office 

Learn more about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ZeroDeathsMD.

CONTACT:

Cynthia Cavett, Delaware Office of Highway Safety, Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

Whitney Nichels, MDOT MVA, wnichels@mdot.maryland.gov