Montgomery, Ala.(WDNews) – Governor Kay Ivey has awarded more than $7.6 million in grants to improve highway safety throughout Alabama and reduce reckless driving on the state’s roads. The grants, given to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and traffic safety offices in all 67 counties, will help fund critical campaigns like “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
The funding will allow law enforcement to increase traffic patrols in areas with high rates of crashes and violations. It will also cover overtime costs for officers to focus on speeding, seat belt compliance, and impaired driving during peak travel times.
“Responsible law-abiding motorists deserve to travel safely on our highways and roads,” said Governor Ivey. “These funds will support our police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and state troopers who work tirelessly to ensure that those who break our traffic laws are either ticketed for their reckless behavior or removed from the roads.”
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor praised the impact of the governor’s leadership on public safety, stating, “During the past several years, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has recorded a steady decrease in overall traffic fatalities across the state. This downward trend and the lives saved on our roadways are a direct reflection of Governor Ivey’s leadership and effort to prioritize public safety throughout her administration.”
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grants, using funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell expressed support for the effort, saying, “ADECA supports Governor Ivey in her efforts to reduce traffic crashes and make our roads safer. Like Governor Ivey, we are grateful for the dedication of our law enforcement agencies in Alabama who work hard to protect their communities.”
The following grants were awarded to serve as fiscal agents for the state’s highway safety districts:
$3.15 million to the Franklin County Commission for the North Central and East Central Regional Highway Safety offices, covering 32 counties, including Jefferson, Madison, and Shelby.
$1.5 million to the Southeast Alabama Regional Highway Safety Office at Enterprise State Community College, serving Autauga, Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Houston, and 11 other counties.
$1.36 million to the Mobile County Commission for the Southwest Regional Highway Safety Office, covering 23 counties, including Baldwin, Tuscaloosa, and Mobile.
$1.6 million to ALEA for state troopers and the Drug Recognition Expert Program, which trains officers to determine impairment caused by drugs, alcohol, or other factors.
These funds are expected to help further reduce traffic crashes and fatalities across Alabama.
