A new report shows that Delaware is one of the best performing states when it comes to enforcing highway and auto safety laws.
Each state was evaluated on based on whether or not it enforces 15 basic safety laws determined by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Delaware was one of 11 states that performed the best in terms of highway safety laws. The First State enforces 12 out of the 15 optimal laws, along with Washington D.C., Oregon and Illinois.
No state in the country enforces more than 12 of the optimal laws.
Jacqueline Gillan, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, says that even though Delaware performs well compared to the rest of the country, the state could still make some basic improvements.
“Well Delaware has always done really well. They could be the first state to achieve all 15 by closing these lethal loopholes," said Gillan. "We’re only talking about three laws.”
Gillan’s group says Delaware is missing an all-rider motorcycle helmet law, an open container law and restricted licenses for teen drivers under age 18.
Gillan pointed specifically to the lack of the all-rider motorcycle helmet law.
“If you’re in a crash, it won’t do a lot to protect the seat of your motorcycle, but it would do a lot to protect a rider from death and serious head injury. It doesn’t make sense that Delaware has important laws, and they’re lacking the motorcycle helmet law, yet in adjoining states like New Jersey, they do have an all rider motorcycle helmet law,” said Gillan.
In 2014, there were 15 motorcycle-related deaths in Delaware, according to the state’s Office of Highway Safety.
Last year, Delaware adopted a law that places ignition interlock device in the cars of offending drunk drivers. The total number of DUI arrests in the First State decreased between 2013 and 2014 by nearly 4 percent. However, traffic related deaths between 2013 and 2014 increased by 20 percent. Nearly half of those deaths were due to impaired driving, while 43 percent were due to not wearing a seatbelt.
