STATE OF DELAWARE
OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY
P.O. BOX 1321
DOVER, DELAWARE 19903-1321
302-744-2743
www.state.de.us/highway

282 Cited for Aggressive Driving Behaviors
During First Week of Campaign 

Dover - In just the first week of an all out statewide enforcement and awareness initiative to "Stop Aggressive Driving," Delaware law enforcement officers have issued 282 citations to drivers for aggressive driving behaviors, and another 47 to unlicensed, uninsured and inattentive motorists for a total of 329 citations in a three day period.

Office of Highway Safety officials launched the "Stop Aggressive Driving" campaign last Wednesday as a result of crash data showing that aggressive driving behaviors are responsible for 60% (37) of Delaware's 62 fatal crashes since the beginning of this year.

"The fact that officers found more than 275 examples of aggressive driving on Delaware roadways in just the first three days of the campaign, clearly demonstrates the need for this safety initiative," said Tricia Roberts, Director of the Office of Highway Safety. "We are committed to maintaining this level of stepped up enforcement over the next six months."

The following is a breakdown of the number of violations found during the first week of aggressive driving enforcement: 20 Aggressive Driving, 169 speeding, 46 unsafe lane changes, 24 following too closely, 16 running stop signs and stop lights, 6 passing on the shoulder and 1 failure to yield the right-of-way. Here is a list of the additional violations officers found: 26 unlicensed drivers, 4 no insurance, 3 suspended license, 2 expired licenses, 2 no license in possession, 1 inattentive driving and 9 seat belt.

One traffic stop for aggressive driving also resulted in a criminal arrest. After discovering that the driver did not have a license, a Delaware State Trooper performed an inventory search of the vehicle before it was towed and found a hidden door on the driver's arm rest where he located a "butterfly knife" with a four-and-a-half inch blade.

The "Stop Aggressive Driving" campaign will run from July through December. In all, 12 State and local police agencies with high crash locations in their jurisdictions that are statistically identified as being aggressive driving related, have been provided with federal grant funding to conduct overtime patrols. In addition, a special enforcement project is being piloted in New Castle County which involves the use of two-man "Aggressive Driving Teams" as well as unconventional vehicles to catch violators. Aggressive driving enforcement will be supported by radio, internet and billboard ads designed to reach the most frequent offenders, young adult males 16 - 25 years old.

Anyone who sees an aggressive driver is encouraged to call 9 -1-1 as soon as it's safe to do so, and provide the following information to dispatchers: make, model and color of the vehicle, direction of travel, and license plate information if possible.

For more information on aggressive driving, visit the Office of Highway Safety website at www.state.de.us/highway .