MONTGOMERY— Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded $3.63 million in grants for programs that to make Alabama roads safer by preventing injuries and fatalities.
The state’s nine regional traffic safety offices will use the funds to cover overtime for officers and deputies conducting extra patrols and checkpoints during peak travel times. Officers will target speeding, seat belt violations and drunken driving. The funding covers a one-year period and additional funding may also be awarded.
“Unsafe and irresponsible drivers pose a danger to every motorist and passenger on an Alabama road,” Bentley said. “Local police officers, deputies and state troopers are working long hours to enforce the law and provide motorists with a visible reminder to drive safely.”
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ADECA manages a wide array of programs that support law enforcement and traffic safety, workforce development, energy conservation, water resource management, economic development and recreation.
Gov. Bentley awarded the following grants:
· $333,640 for the West Alabama Community Traffic Safety Office at Shelton State Community College. The office serves Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties.
· $684,980 for the North Alabama Highway Safety Office at Northwest Shoals Community College. The office serves Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Marion, Morgan and Winston counties.
· $640,727 to the Etowah County Commission for the Northeast Alabama Traffic Safety Office which serves Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Madison and Marshall counties.
· $344,818 to the city of Montgomery for the Central Alabama Highway Safety Office which serves Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery and Russell counties.
· $486,669 to the Mobile County Commission for its Highway Traffic Safety Division which serves Baldwin, Escambia and Mobile counties.
· $472,900 for the Greater Birmingham Highway Traffic Safety Program at Jefferson State Community College. The program serves Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker counties.
· $182,940 for the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission’s Highway Traffic Safety Division which serves Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Marengo, Monroe, Washington and Wilcox counties
· $229,080 for the East Alabama Highway Safety Office at Gadsden State Community College. The office serves Calhoun, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Talladega and Tallapoosa counties.
· $256,824 for the Southeast Alabama Regional Highway Safety Office at Enterprise State Community College. The office serves Barbour, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties.
