GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Delaware. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.
Bicycle helmets required for all riders under 18.
Helmets required for all riders under 19 and (effective 7/30/2023) all riders for two years after receiving a motorcycle endorsement. Universal helmet law repealed 1978.
8 years
None
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
65
65
55
55
65
65
Yes
0.15
3 months
No
Highly incentivized for all convictions
No
Under 2 yrs and under 30 lbs in rear-facing car seat
Under 4 yrs and under 40 lbs in a harnessed child safety seat
Under 16 in booster seat until reaching the maximum height or weight limit
5'5" or less and under 12 yrs in rear seat
Under 16 in booster seat until reaching the maximum height or weight limit
17 years
16
6
50 (10)
16 / 6
10 p.m. - 6 a.m.
No more than 1 (law also includes a seat belt provision: if a teen driver w/ permit or their passenger <18 is found unbelted, the permit holder's license suspended for 2 months)
16 and over
All
Primary (civil penalty)
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers with learner or intermediate licence. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
None
n/a
Permitted by state law
Statewide
The recently formed Delaware State Police Highway Safety Unit conducted about 2,000 proactive traffic stops in the first three months of operation according to statistics provided to WDEL News. Those stops resulted in nearly 1,300 speeding charges.
Story by Mike Phillips
September 19, 2024
The Delaware State Police (DSP) is proud to announce the creation of the new Highway Safety Unit (HSU), which aims to promote safety on Delaware’s roadways through proactive enforcement measures and public education initiatives. The HSU is the result of a collaborative effort between the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS), the Delaware State Police, and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT).
May 16, 2024
In 2022, Delaware matched a sobering milestone for traffic fatalities at 164, just shy of the 1988 record of 165 roadway deaths. Since that peak, Delaware has seen a 16% decrease, with 137 fatalities in 2023 compared to 164 in 2022. Delaware Office of Highway Safety’s Meghan Niddrie notes that even since the beginning of this year, those numbers continue to decline compared to 2023.
Story by Johnny Perez-Gonzalez
March 31, 2024
The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) has announced a series of public forums across Delaware to work with residents to decrease road fatalities in the state.
The number of pedestrians killed in vehicle crashes rose in 2020, despite fewer cars on the road amid the pandemic.
Story by Amanda Maile and Mina Kaji
May 20, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2021
CONTACT: Adam Snider, 202-580-7930
202-365-8971 (after hours)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2018
CONTACT: Madison Forker, mforker@ghsa.org
202-789-0942 x120
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL) have awarded State Highway Safety Offices in five states funding to support teen safe driving programs.
