ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WDNews) — Enterprise State Community College has received five grants totaling about $1.58 million to support traffic enforcement and safe driving education across southeast Alabama, including the Wiregrass.
According to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the funding is part of more than $6.6 million Gov. Kay Ivey awarded to the state’s four regional traffic safety offices.
The grants will pay overtime for law enforcement officers to target speeding, seat belt violations and other dangerous driving behaviors. Funding will also support public education about impaired driving and the proper use of 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,” Ivey said. “I am pleased to award these grants supporting efforts to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.”
Enterprise State’s funding supports the Community Traffic Safety Program’s Southeast Region, which serves 21 counties. Those include Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties.
Law enforcement agencies within the region will be eligible for funding to increase enforcement in local problem areas. Traffic data will help identify locations where impaired driving and speeding are concerns.
The grants will also fund extra patrol shifts around holidays, including Labor Day and Memorial Day, in conjunction with the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket campaigns.
Statewide, the Franklin County Commission received more than $1.8 million for the North Central Region. Central Alabama Community College received more than $1.7 million for the East Central Region, and the Mobile County Commission received about $1.53 million for the Southwest Region.
ADECA is administering the grants using funding from 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.”
