Making Work Zones Safer for the
Delaware Department of Transportation

When DelDOT and Elovate joined forces, work zone safety in Delaware took a meaningful step forward. Consistent, technology-backed enforcement has turned high-risk construction corridors into safer spaces for workers and motorists alike.

About
Delaware Department of Transportation

DelDOT strives to deliver excellence in transportation — every trip, every mode, every dollar, and everyone.

  • Location: United States
  • Population: 1.02 million
  • Road Network: 13,507 lane miles
  • Crash & Fatality Data: 275+ work zone crashes annually
  • Enforcement Program: Electronic Speed Safety Program for Work Zones
  • Cameras: Camera system powered by scanning LiDAR
  • Duration: 4 years in effect

Background

To reduce crashes and save lives in active work zones, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) partnered with Elovate in 2022 to implement an Electronic Speed Safety Program (ESSP). By deploying automated speed enforcement in high-risk construction zones, DelDOT aimed to change driver behavior, enforce speed limits, and protect both workers and road users.

Challenges

Work zones are particularly vulnerable areas for traffic collisions due to changing road patterns and reduced lane widths. DelDOT needed a solution that could:

  • Reduce dangerous speeding behavior
  • Improve compliance with posted work zone speed limits
  • Enhance safety for roadside workers

Solution

Elovate provided the speed camera technology and program operations for a work zone speed safety program, launching the pilot phase in early 2022 along I-95 in Wilmington. The technology automatically detected speeding vehicles and issued citations, while also offering a warning phase to build public awareness and encourage compliance.

There are currently two Portable Camera Units deployed and active.

Source: delaware.gov

Results

Speed Reduction

  • Northbound I-95: Average speeds dropped from 54.3 mph to 49.0 mph (9.9% reduction)
  • Southbound I-95: Average speeds dropped from 49.0 mph to 43.1 mph (12.1% reduction)


Crash and Injury Reductions

  • 46% decrease in total crashes
  • 38% reduction in injury crashes

(Compared to the same construction period in 2021)


Worker Safety Improvements

  • No worker injuries reported during the pilot period
  • Safer roadside environments from consistent speed control


Compliance & Program Operations

  • 63,714 warning notices issued
  • 8,765 citations mailed
  • 7,331 vehicles with multiple violations

Reference:

Future Outlook

In July 2024, DelDOT expanded its Electronic Speed Safety Program to the I-95/SR 896 construction zone in Newark.

Early results show:

  • Continued speed reductions of over 5 mph
  • No reported worker injuries to date

“DelDOT’s collaboration with Elovate demonstrates how data-driven enforcement programs can effectively reduce speeding, prevent crashes, and protect the lives of those working and traveling through construction zones. The program provides clear evidence how automated enforcement, when implemented strategically, can drive measurable safety outcomes and public benefit.”
Tim Bigwood — Chief Operating Officer at Elovate

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