State grants funding to improve highway safety, traffic enforcement

Several entities have received $9.3 million from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to improve highway safety and to assist the enforcement of traffic laws. 

“Those who are disobeying traffic laws or driving while impaired needlessly put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk,” said Gov. Kay Ivey in an announcement. “Working together with these partners, our goals are to change driving behaviors and reduce fatalities to the best of our ability, helping ensure that everyone safely arrives at their destination.”

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency received $1.4 million along with four other entities. 

One of these is the Mobile County Commission with $1.5 million for the Southwest Regional Highway Safety Office to promote using seat belts and child restraints, the Community Traffic Safety Program (CTSP), the Hot Spot Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign and the STEP.

Projects will serve Baldwin, Bibb, Chilton, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Washington and Wilcox counties.

Enterprise State Community College received five grants worth an estimated $1.6 million to fund the Southeast Alabama Community Highway Safety Office and projects related to "data-driven and high-visibility traffic enforcement."

Projects 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 programs supported by these grants form a comprehensive strategy for making Alabama’s highways and roads safer,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of these initiatives to prevent traffic deaths and injuries.”