Governor Kay Ivey has awarded more than $6.6 million for a combined effort to boost enforcement of traffic laws and to encourage safe driving practices.
The grants to the state’s four regional traffic safety offices will fund overtime for law enforcement officers across the state to target dangerous behaviors including speeding and seat belt violations. The funds will also be used for public education campaigns on topics including the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs and the importance of using child safety restraints.
“These grants provide our law enforcement officers with resources to enforce traffic laws, discourage dangerous driving behaviors and help people travel safely on Alabama’s roads,” Governor Ivey said.
“I am pleased to award these grants supporting efforts to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.”
Law enforcement agencies in these regions will be eligible to receive funding to increase enforcement in problem areas for traffic violations in their communities. The grants will target locations determined by data to be hot spots for impaired driving and speeding. The funds will also be used to provide extra shifts to officers to boost patrols during certain times of the year, including around Labor Day and Memorial Day in conjunction with the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket public education campaigns.
The Franklin County Commission
Received five grants totaling more than $1.8 million for the Community Traffic Safety Program’s (CTSP) North Central Region. These grants serve Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Walker and Winston counties.
Central Alabama Community College
Received five grants totaling more than $1.7 million for the CTSP’s East Central Region. These grants serve Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Coosa, Elmore, Etowah, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties.
Enterprise State Community College
Received five grants totaling about $1.58 million for the CTSP’s Southeast Region. These grants serve Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Clay, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Pike, Randolph, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.
The Mobile County Commission
Received five grants totaling about $1.53 million for the CTSP’s Southwest Region. These grants serve Baldwin, Bibb, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Pickens, Perry, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Washington and Wilcox counties.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“These programs focus on enforcement and education and are part of a strategy to make roads safer throughout the state,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of these initiatives to enhance traffic safety.”
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
