Delaware Ranks High on Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws

SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. - The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety released its latest Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws on Thursday. Delaware is one of  eight states ranking in the green. 

According to the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, motor vehicle crashes kill 100 people and injure 7500 others everyday.  The 17th annual report ranks each state based on 16 "life saving" traffic safety laws. This year's theme is "2020 Vision for Safety."

States in the top tier of the Roadmap Report's ratings must have at least 11 of the 16 laws, including primary enforcement seat belt laws. With 11 of these laws, Delaware ranks in the green. This ranking stems from Delaware's child endangerment laws, cellphone laws, restrictions for passengers and nighttime driving, and learner's permit requirements. 

Ken Grant with AAA Mid Atlantic says this ranking is a reflection of how seriously our legislators and traffic safety advocates take the safety of every driver, passenger, and cyclist in Delaware. 

"We need to recognize that passing and enforcing laws is only part of the equation," says Grant. "All of us have to do our part to both practice and encourage safe driving, especially taking away distractions while behind the wheel."

Detective Joey Melvin says Georgetown Police collect data to target areas where officers can increase patrols and where improvements can be made.

"We direct our officers to work in those areas and try to correct whether it be through education," says Melvin. "Sometimes there may need to be some changes made, whether it be a lower speed limit or making sure our pedestrian crosswalks are painted."

Delaware ranks in the red for child passenger safety. The study points out that the first state doesn't have a booster seat law or a law requiring children under two to be in a rear facing car seat. Melvin explains that this actually gives parents more options for safety.

"We encourage them not to transition until the seat says they've exceeded the height and weight requirement, so they could be up to three years rear-facing," says Melvin. "I think the reason that law was written that way specifically in Delaware is because every child is a different size."

Delaware is yet to implement an all-rider motorcycle helmet, an age 18 unrestricted license and an open container law, all of which the advocates for highway and auto safety include in their list of "life saving" laws.

Grant says AAA is advocating for more highway safety laws this year, including Senate Bill 58, which would require drivers to remove all snow and ice from their vehicle before driving on public roads.