DOVER, DE- The Delaware Office of Highway Safety hosted a public forum Tuesday night, giving neighbors a platform to voice concerns about traffic safety and help shape future road safety initiatives.
Dozens of Kent County locals turned out to share their concerns—ranging from speeding and distracted driving to pedestrian safety. No issue was off the table.
That kind of direct community input is exactly what the Office of Highway Safety says is needed.
For Rich Wieland, a Smyrna local, the sound of cars rushing by isn’t just background noise—it’s a daily reminder of the danger right outside his door.
"People run through red lights as they're speeding, and it's a life and death situation. We've had some deaths and a lot of injuries, a lot of near misses."
Living in a 55-and-older community, Wieland says the situation is only getting worse.
"We want more highway safety- for our lives’ sake."
Sharon Bryson, Director of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, says hearing from residents is critical in identifying real-time problems and crafting effective solutions.
"Gathering information from residents about what they're seeing in their local community and what they think would help prevent some of the injuries, crashes, and fatalities we're seeing in Delaware."
While Bryson notes that crash fatalities have declined statewide, pedestrian safety remains a rising concern.
"People who are exiting vehicles when they've broken down on the roadway and unfortunately, are involved in a crash where there's a serious injury or fatality."
For John Crowley, a Smyrna resident, the forum offered a chance not just to raise concerns—but to advocate for proactive solutions.
"We also asked them if they would come to do a lecture to make the community more aware of what's going on."
Bryson says that every concern and suggestion shared during the forum will be taken seriously and used to improve the future of road safety in Delaware.
"Every Delawarean should have the ability to go about their business and go home safely to their families at night. This is about changing behavior so that people can be safer on our roadways."
Tuesday’s event was one of four public forums being held across the state.
Officials say the feedback gathered will directly inform a new awareness campaign aimed at encouraging safer driving habits.
For more information about upcoming meetings, visit the Delaware Office of Highway Safety’s website.