Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel William D. Crotty

Delaware State Police Join Multi-State Effort to Promote Safe Driving on I-95

Date Posted: Monday, May 12th, 2025

Image of a driver distracted by handheld phone with traffic in the background. DelDOT, Delaware State Police, and Delaware Office of Highway Safety logo in the center on top with Interstate 95 sign behind

The Delaware State Police, in partnership with the Delaware Department of Transportation and the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, is joining forces with other law enforcement agencies along the I-95 corridor and across the First State in the “I-95 Drive to Save Lives” campaign. This coordinated, multi-jurisdictional effort aims to reduce serious crashes and promote safe driving habits throughout Delaware and the I-95 corridor.

From Tuesday, May 13 to Thursday, May 15, 2025, troopers will work alongside 8 other state police and highway patrol agencies to increase enforcement visibility and target dangerous driving behaviors. These include distracted driving, speed, and failure to wear seatbelts, which are leading factors in fatal crashes. The seatbelt usage rate in Delaware has remained consistently around 92% over the last five years; however, 58% of the fatalities in 2024 involved unrestrained individuals. There is still work to be done to get to the goal of zero fatalities on our roadways.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it can take approximately 4.6 seconds to read a text message. At 55 mph, that is the equivalent of traveling the length of an entire football field blind. In 2023, speeding-related crashes accounted for 29% of traffic fatalities. There are numerous consequences to distracted driving and speeding that affect not only the driver but also everyone else on the road around them.

“Every life lost on our roadways is one too many,” stated Colonel William D. Crotty, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “As the First State, we are proud to stand with our public safety partners in support of the Drive to Save Lives Initiative. This campaign is not just about enforcement; it’s a reflection of the work we do every day to protect lives, promote safe driving practices, and prevent tragedies on our roadways.”

“We are proud to partner with the Delaware State Police and the Office of Highway Safety to help educate the community on the dangers of driving while under the influence, driving while distracted and failing to follow other imperative rules of the road like obeying posted speed limits,” shared Secretary of Transportation Shanté Hastings. “I would like to challenge every driver, rider, and pedestrian to do their part and stay alert, stay safe, and stay committed to protecting lives. I challenge everyone to Be DelAWARE and together we can achieve the goal of zero deaths on our roadways.”

“The Delaware Office of Highway Safety continues to support this collaborative initiative for enforcement along I-95. Working with multiple partners creates a broader enforcement that can help save lives in and around the First State” said Sharon Bryson, Director of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “We need to remind everyone on the road to put the phone down, slow down, and buckle up every trip, every time. The goal is to protect the lives of Delaware’s residents, visitors, and neighbors.”

Participating agencies include:

North Carolina Highway Patrol, Maryland State Police, Delaware State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, New Jersey State Police, New York State Police, Connecticut State Police, Rhode Island State Police, and Maine State Police.

Driver to Save Lives Logo

This year’s “Drive to Save Lives” campaign is funded by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), with continued support from the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and partnering law enforcement agencies. The initiative highlights a shared commitment to protecting all who travel throughout our state. Motorists can expect to see increased patrols and enforcement efforts during this collaborative campaign.

The Delaware Department of Transportation also encourages drivers to support safer roadways through the “Be DelAWARE” campaign. Created by DelDOT Leadership Academy participants in 2023, the initiative invites everyone to take the Be DelAWARE pledge at BeDelaware.deldot.gov, with the goal of reducing fatalities on Delaware roadways to zero.