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Thursday, April 06, 2017

“I-95 Drive to Save Lives” and “Drive to Save Lives in Delaware” Traffic Initiatives April 8-9, 2017

The Delaware State Police in partnership with the Delaware Office of Highway Safety have coordinated a multi-state traffic campaign to reduce serious and fatal crashes during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
The Delaware State Police are joining forces with 14 other states and local allied partners to reduce traffic deaths and injuries through traffic enforcement. These initiatives will be a contributing effort to support the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) initiative, “The Drive to Save Lives Campaign.” The IACP leaders’ goal is to change the high-risk behaviors of motorists in order to decrease the number of collisions through a greater awareness, education, strong partnerships, and high-visibility traffic enforcement.
According to NHTSA, 2015 marked the largest increase in traffic fatalities since 1966. Also, the first half of 2016 revealed a similar pattern of increase.  The approximate 1,920 miles of I-95 has been ranked among the top 10 in fatalities for the past several years and furthermore, I-95 is the fifth most dangerous interstate in the U.S.
Distracted Driving fatalities increased 8.8% in 2015 and distracted driving is believed to be responsible for 10% of all fatal crashes. With the first six months of 2016 showing an increase in fatal crashes compared to the first six months of 2015, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month proved to be an appropriate time for this initiative.

On Saturday, April 8th through Sunday, April 9th, 2017, law enforcement agencies in each state will conduct traffic enforcement along 1,920 miles of I-95 and other targeted roadways to keep motorists safe and reduce fatalities. The enforcement initiatives will focus on speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, impaired driving, seatbelt use, pedestrian safety, as well as motorcycle and commercial vehicle safety and enforcement.
All 15 states that line Interstate 95 from Maine to Florida (Maine State Police, New Hampshire State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Rhode Island State Police, Connecticut State Police, New York State Police, New Jersey State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Delaware State Police, Maryland State Police, Virginia State Police, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Georgia State Patrol, and the Florida Highway Patrol), will be participating in the “I-95 Drive to Save Lives” safe driving campaign, led and coordinated by the Delaware State Police.
The following municipalities- Camden Police Department, Delaware Capitol Police Department, Delaware City Police Department, Delaware River and Bay Authority, Delaware State Police, Dover Police Department, Elsmere Police Department, Greenwood Police Department, Laurel Police Department, Milford Police Department, New Castle City Police Department, New Castle County Police Department, Rehoboth Beach Police Department, Selbyville Police Department and Smyrna Police Department, will be participating in the “Drive to Save Lives in Delaware” by conducting traffic enforcement across the approximately 96 miles of the State of Delaware.
Delaware Troopers with support of their allied partners will be out in full force on Saturday April 8 through Sunday April 9, 2017 conducting traffic enforcement statewide by ground and air, targeting the following roadways, and others throughout the state:
New Castle County
I-95, I-495, SR-1
Kent County
US 13, US 113, SR 1
Sussex County
US 13, US 113, SR 1
“Proactive traffic enforcement during the National Distracted Driving Awareness month is a great example of the continued commitment to maintain safer roads. The Delaware State Police working in conjunction with our state and local allied partners strives to reach our collective goals of increasing awareness of traffic safety and reducing crashes.”
Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr. Superintendent of the Delaware State Police
The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is proud to support the I-95 Drive to Save Lives traffic initiative as part of a multi-state program working to decrease fatal crashes and serious injuries on I-95 and to bring attention to April as National Distracted Driving Awareness month. We want drivers to arrive alive - so put your phone down, reduce your speeds, wear your seatbelt and don’t drive impaired.”

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