Dover – Last weekend was a deadly one on Delaware roads as four people were killed in four separate motor vehicle crashes, all occurring in New Castle County. The first fatality was the result of a motorcycle crash on Friday afternoon. The remaining three all occurred between 1 and 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. A variety of factors were at work in the crashes according to State Police reports including alcohol, speed and lack of seat belt use. All are still under investigation to determine the final factors involved in the crashes. This brings the number of people killed on Delaware roads since January 1st to 51, compared to 59 at this time last year.
“As we head into the holiday weekend, we cannot stress enough how important it is to be cautious every moment you are behind the wheel,” said Andrea Summers, Community Relations Officer for the Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS). “An overwhelming majority of crashes are due to driver error and that makes them preventable. Please do all you can to prevent one from happening to you.”
This fourth of July weekend officers statewide will be out looking for impaired drivers as OHS launches its primary DUI campaign, Checkpoint Strikeforce. Six sobriety checkpoints are scheduled to take place in locations statewide. Additionally, Delaware State Police will be on the lookout for speeding and other aggressive drivers such as those who tailgate, run red lights or make unsafe lane changes.
OHS reminds all drivers to go back to the basics of driving safety: slow down, don’t drink and drive and always buckle up. For the holiday weekend, plan extra time to get to any destination so you don’t let traffic frustration cause you to make a bad decision behind the wheel.
