Delaware Cracks Down on Aggressive Driving
In the first month of a statewide enforcement initiative to get drivers to "Stop speeding before it stops you," Delaware law enforcement officers issued 840 citations for speeding violations. In addition to the 840 speeding citations, officers also made 14 aggressive driving arrests, two DUI arrests, and 16 other arrests for criminal offenses such as drug use/possession, and having outstanding warrants for prior violations. They also issued 534 citations for other traffic violations including offenses such as running red lights and stop signs, which are identified as individual aggressive driving behaviors.
Preventing speed-related crashes and fatalities is the focus of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety's 2008 "Stop Aggressive Driving" campaign, which the agency and law enforcement launched in early July. In 2007, 62 percent of Delaware's fatal crashes were caused by aggressive driving behaviors, with speed being the most frequently cited violation. Speeding is second only to DUI as the leading cause of traffic deaths in Delaware, according to statewide crash data.
The speed focused "Stop Aggressive Driving" campaign was the third component of the 120 Days of Summer HEAT initiative, a summer-time crackdown on traffic violators. For more information on the campaign, visit the Office of Highway Safety Web site at www.ohs.delaware.gov/.