DOVER Del. – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety has launched its annual holiday road safety campaign, the agency said in a release. The effort combines outreach, safety messaging and community engagement aimed at reducing crashes during a period that sees some of the year’s heaviest roadway travel.
The campaign brings back two major initiatives. OHS has renewed its Sober Rides program, which offers ride share vouchers of up to 20 dollars through Lyft and Uber during designated hours beginning on Thanksgiving Eve. The vouchers are intended to reduce impaired driving and can be accessed through mysoberrides.com. The agency noted that businesses across the state will display Sober Rides materials leading up to the holiday, and street teams will visit bars in all three counties to promote safe transportation. OHS also revived its Safe Holiday Travels initiative, a communications and engagement effort focused on impaired driving, speeding, occupant protection, distracted driving and pedestrian safety. The agency expanded this year’s outreach to reach communities identified as having higher crash risk and to provide continuity between its holiday safety messages.
Impaired driving remains a significant concern statewide. Between 2020 and 2024, Delaware recorded 641 fatal crashes, with 39 percent involving alcohol or drugs. In 2024 alone, more than 1,000 crashes involved impaired driving. OHS encourages residents to avoid distractions, stay sober when walking or driving and plan transportation ahead of holiday gatherings. The Sober Rides program will run during two high risk travel periods: from 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, through 3 a.m. on Thursday, November 27, and from 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, through 3 a.m. on Thursday, January 1. Breakthru Delaware has returned as the primary sponsor of the initiative, alongside other business partners that help fund the vouchers.
Safe Holiday Travels will include appearances at community events across all three counties, where street teams will share safe driving tips and activities. Scheduled stops include events in Newark, Dover, Georgetown, Milford and Milton. Outreach materials will be distributed in English and Spanish at holiday destinations and through community partners including legislative offices, faith based organizations, retail businesses, YMCAs, DMV locations, DelDOT and DART. More information about the agency’s holiday safety initiatives is available at ohs.delaware.gov, with Sober Rides details at mysoberrides.com.
Photo: Delaware.gov
Photo: Delaware.gov