Road Fatalities Down in Delaware

Authorities say stronger law enforcement has helped reduce traffic fatalities on Delaware roads.

The state Office of Highway Safety says there were 118 fatalities last year, down 20 percent from 147 in 2006.

State police attributed the decline in part to stepped-up enforcement of traffic laws by state and local law enforcement agencies, including crackdowns on aggressive drivers and drunken drivers.

Troopers issued almost 152,800 traffic citations last year, a record number.

The traffic checkpoint campaign targeting impaired drivers contacted nearly 85,000 motorists, yielding 663 DUI arrests, 170 wanted persons, 241 drug arrests, 117 underage drinking arrests and more than 3,500 traffic and criminal violations.

Officials said a second campaign targeting aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding, red light infractions, following too closely and failure to yield right of way also yielded significant enforcement violations.