Delaware State Police have launched a pedestrian safety campaign as a result of an increasing number of pedestrian deaths this year.
This year, so far, there have been five pedestrian fatalities along the Delaware coast.
Office of Highway Safety Jana Simpler told the Wilmington News Journal that’s two more than last year.
Simpler added that three of those involved alcohol use.
The new campaign, ”Don’t Join the Walking Dead: Cross at Marked Crosswalks”, is a play on words from the popular AMC zombie drama “The Walking Dead”.
Last Friday the Office of Highway Safety conducted a safety check at Starboard restaurant in Dewey Beach handing out flyers.
And second will be held this Saturday near Citizens Bank on Second Street in Lewes.
In the past New Castle County has accounted for the majority of pedestrian deaths but the department decided to start in Lewes and Dewey Beach.
Lewes Chief of Police Jeffrey Horvath told the News Journal that his town has not seen any pedestrian deaths so far attributing that to the 25 mph speed limits and the large number of pedestrian crosswalks.
In Dewey Beach the town council voted to spend up to $5-thousand that will be matched by local businesses for barriers on Route 1 to keep pedestrians from walking on the busy roadway.
