By Craig Anderson

WILMINGTON -The Delaware State Police, in partnership with the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, is joining forces with other law enforcement agencies along the I-95 corridor and across the State of Delaware in the “Drive to Save Lives” campaign.

This campaign is a multi-jurisdictional, high-visibility traffic enforcement initiative that is meant to increase traffic enforcement presence and efforts along the I-95 corridor from Maine to Florida and across the State of Delaware from April 1 through April 3.

In 2022 alone, a news release said, over 1,000 lives were lost along the I-95 corridor. The Delaware State Police will be the lead agency for this campaign by coordinating the efforts of the other 15 State Police and Highway Patrol agencies along I-95, as well as numerous participating Delaware law enforcement agencies, over this 72-hour period.

Law enforcement agencies from fifteen states bordering Interstate 95 from Maine to Florida will participate in the “I-95 Drive to Save Lives” campaign. States include Delaware, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine.

The “Drive to Save Lives” campaign will consist of two simultaneous efforts, “I-95 Drive to Save Lives,” which involves State Police and Highway Patrol agencies handling their portion of I-95, and “Drive to Save Lives in Delaware,” which involves participating Delaware law enforcement agencies patrolling within their jurisdictions.

“Thousands of people are killed every year in motor vehicle fatalities across our nation and the impact to the family members of those involved in these fatalities can be devastating,” said Colonel Melissa Zebley, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police.

“It is the shared critical mission of the Delaware State Police and its partners, to reduce the number of fatalities on our highways. Motorists, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users in Delaware can be assured that our vigilant Troopers will be promoting safe driving practices, not just during this traffic initiative but each and every day.

“Please understand that when you see Troopers engaging you on the roadside, we are doing so to prioritize your safety and the safety of others.”

Delaware Office of Highway Safety Director Kim Chesser said that “This multi-state initiative starts on April 1st in conjunction with National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving is one of the leading contributing factors in traffic fatalities on Delaware roads.

“Drivers know that texting and driving is extremely dangerous and illegal, but many continue to do it anyway. These behaviors put everyone on the road at risk. Drivers have a responsibility to drive safe.”