Delaware’s 149 traffic fatalities this year are the most since 1988

A 49-year-old Milford man was crossing Route 1 simply north of Milford simply earlier than 6:30 p.m. on Sunday when he was hit by a automobile and killed.

State police say the driving force swerved and tried to brake, however was unable to cease in time. The pedestrian was pronounced lifeless on the scene.

He’s the 149th particular person killed this yr on Delaware’s roads.

With just a few weeks until the New 12 months, it’s been an particularly lethal yr on Delaware highways. The state hasn’t recorded this many freeway deaths since 1988, when a file excessive 165 individuals died on state roads, in keeping with Delaware’s Annual Site visitors Statistical Report.

“Delaware is dealing with challenges,” stated Jason Coleman, with the state Workplace of Freeway Security. “Rushing accounted for 32% of all site visitors fatalities final yr in 2021,” he stated.

Final yr, 29 pedestrians died, and this yr’s pedestrian demise toll has risen.

With a couple of weeks left within the yr, Coleman’s involved concerning the quantity climbing even increased, as there’s sometimes a rise in crashes and fatalities across the vacation season.

OHS believes that inattentive and distracted driving, in addition to rushing, are the primary causes of site visitors deaths this yr based mostly on an evaluation of accomplished investigations, though many deadly crashes are nonetheless below investigation.

“It’s not simply with Delaware, it’s additionally a nationwide development that’s occurred nationally as properly,” Coleman stated.

In keeping with the US Division of Transportation, intoxicated drivers account for round 30% of all highway deaths in the US. In 2020, 11,654 individuals died in these avoidable accidents. When evaluating the primary quarters of 2022 and 2021, there’s been a 7% rise in site visitors fatalities nationally.

In Delaware, alcohol-related deaths accounted for 42 fatalities in 2021, or 30% of all freeway deaths.

Whereas there are deaths associated to drunk driving, in keeping with C.R. Mcleod, director of neighborhood relations for DelDOT, he can’t say it is a significant factor in Delaware.

He inspired Delaware drivers to be additional cautious behind the wheel, particularly into the brand new yr. “Early on within the yr, we may see a development that fatalities had been trending increased,” McLeod stated. Final yr, 19 people died on Delaware roads in February alone.

At the moment, New Fort County has essentially the most deaths at 79, adopted by Sussex County’s 40, and Kent County at 30.