DELAWARE STATE POLICE TRAFFIC SECTION
Captain Sherri L. Benson
Tasked with numerous responsibilities surrounding the
goal of reducing motor vehicle collisions, the Delaware
State Police Traffic Operations Section performs an array of
diverse functions. At the Headquarters Building in Dover,
administrative and support duties are performed which relate
to statewide recordkeeping and Divisional traffic
enforcement. Based out of the Blackbird and Rt. 301 weigh
facilities in lower New Castle County, the Commercial
Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU) is charged with proactive
and reactive enforcement related to commercial vehicles.
Personnel assigned to the Headquarters Building fulfill
several key duties and responsibilities. Among them is the
development of traffic initiatives, programs and campaigns
designed to promote increased enforcement and police
visibility on our highways. To provide the logic for these,
the Traffic Section Tactical Analyst utilizes the Criminal
Highway Analysis and Mapping for Public Safety (CHAMPS)
system to acutely identify and isolate problem traffic areas
throughout the state. Statistics are also provided by the
Divisional Statistician to assist in these efforts.
An effective analytical tool specifically for fatal crashes
is the Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Housed within
the Traffic Operations Section, this nationwide mechanism
provides for the FARS Coordinator to collect statewide fatal
crash data in an expeditious manner. The data is then
analyzed and placed into statistical databases within the
state, and at the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA). FARS data yields some of the most
accurate, real-time statistics available, which provides a
formidable tool to plan initiatives to combat traffic
fatalities.
In their sixth year of operation, Electronic Red Light
Safety Program (ERLSP) technicians assess red light
violations captured on camera at 37 different approaches at
19 different intersections throughout the state. Since the
program’s inception, we have seen tangible proof of the
successes yielded by this program, as evidenced by a
reduction of 6,503 in red light assessments, along with a
congruent drop in intersection crash rates.
The two ERLSP Technicians assigned to the Traffic Operations
Section oversaw the issuing of 19,858 red light violation
assessments, totaling nearly $2 million in fines. Nine new
intersections were added to the program in 2010 and the
addition of one new ERLSP Technician near the end of 2010.
One of the significant responsibilities of the Traffic
Operations Section is the collection and archiving of motor
vehicle collision reports, along with the dissemination of
them to the public, attorneys’ offices, insurance companies,
and others with vested interests in specific collisions. In
2010, data entry clerks in the Traffic Operations Section
fulfilled and distributed 13,090 requests for collision
reports, which exceeds the total number of motor vehicle
collisions that occurred in State Police serviced areas.
Members assigned to the Truck Enforcement Unit (TEU) are
primarily responsible for the operation of the Blackbird and
Rt. 301 weigh facilities. Additionally, TEU personnel take
portable scales to various locations throughout the state to
conduct commercial vehicle weight checks, while also
ensuring congruence with size regulations.
In addition to TEU, the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance
Program (MCSAP) is also structured under the Commercial
Vehicle Enforcement Unit. This unit’s primary responsibility
is to inspect commercial vehicles, and their operators, to
affirm congruence with governmental regulations. The
majority of these inspections are done at various locations
throughout the state, while many are conducted at the
Blackbird and Rt. 301 weigh facilities.
In 2010, the MCSAP and TEU units accomplished the following:
- Commercial motor vehicle inspections conducted: 3,983
- Commercial motor vehicles weighed on fixed and portable
scales: 27,311
- Drivers placed out of service for non-compliance with
regulations: 251
- Vehicles placed out of service for non-compliance with
regulations: 810
- Traffic arrests for dangerous, moving violations: 892
- Traffic arrests for other violations: 1,171
- Seatbelt arrests: 202
In Delaware during 2010, there were 92 fatal crashes which
caused the deaths of 101 people. Although any number
denoting traffic deaths is tragic, this represents a two
percent decrease from the previous year. Of those crashes,
78 were investigated by the Delaware State Police. Driving
Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs (DUI) ranked as
the #1 cause of fatal crashes. For personal injury and
property damage collisions, Inattentive Driving ranked as
the #1 contributor for injury collisions.
In an effort to reduce these crashes throughout the year,
the Delaware State Police actively participated in numerous
traffic enforcement campaigns, most of which were funded by
the Delaware Office of Highway Safety. Additionally, the
Traffic Operations Section directed traffic action plans
each quarter to target crash producing behaviors. Each
patrol troop implemented its own quarterly action plan based
upon motor vehicle collision trends, noted dangerous driving
behaviors, and citizen complaints in each troop’s specific
area. Police visibility was notably increased on targeted
highways, which yielded crash reductions and more compliant
driving behaviors in the involved areas. The Office of
Highway Safety funded special enforcement in the areas of
DUI, Aggressive Driving, Child Restraint, and Seatbelts.
These jobs focused on Holidays, Summer Months with high
traffic volume, Special Events( ie. NFL Playoffs, Superbowl,
Punkin Chunkin), etc.
As a continuing project, Troopers assigned to Headquarters
and other non-patrol units conducted enforcement activities
during the four major holiday weekends- Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving. During this
initiative, extra Troopers were assigned to notable crash
areas identified from the previous year’s statistics, to
promote increased visibility. As a result, no personal
injury or fatal crashes occurred on any assigned highways,
which fulfilled the initiative’s intended purpose.
Overall, Delaware Troopers yielded numerous traffic arrests
to battle crashes and negative driving behaviors throughout
Delaware in 2010. Troopers made the following arrests during
the year:
Total traffic arrests: 129,052
Aggressive driving-related: 58,143
Aggressive driving (specific): 570
DUI: 3,618
Inattentive driving: 3,587
- Information obtained from 2010 DSP
Annual Report -
