Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announces over $23 million in traffic safety funding
The funding will be awarded to over 120 local law enforcement agencies.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that $23 million has been awarded to support local and statewide initiatives to improve traffic safety and reduce traffic-related fatalities.
In total, more than 170 grants were awarded to 132 local agencies in 66 counties, and to 10 agencies for statewide programming. The grants are being administered by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
Here’s a breakdown of which programs are receiving funding:
- Statewide Programming: $14 million
29 grants were awarded to agencies to implement education, enforcement, and awareness initiatives statewide to address traffic safety related priority areas.
- Impaired Driving Enforcement and Selective Traffic Enforcement Program: $4 million
88 grants were awarded to 56 sheriff’s offices and 32 police departments for overtime hours used to impact traffic-related fatal crashes that involve impaired driving via alcohol or drugs, seat belt usage, speed, aggressive driving, motorcycles, and failure to yield.
- Countywide OVI Task Forces: $2 million
10 grants were awarded to agencies to conduct countywide high visibility enforcement, public awareness, and impaired driving initiatives.
- Safe Community programs: $2 million
44 countywide grants were awarded to communities to address traffic safety issues that involve impaired driving by way of alcohol or drugs, seat belt usage, distracted driving, youthful driving, and motorcycles. Ohio’s Safe Communities network uses local coalitions to deliver traffic safety messages and programs throughout the year at the local level.
The grant funds are directed to OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to support a local and statewide focus on traffic safety priority areas, including impaired driving, seat belt usage, distracted driving, youthful driving, and motorcycle safety.
For a detailed list of agencies receiving grants, and the amounts, click here.
