OHIO — More than $24 million will be going toward programming to improve traffic safety and reduce traffic-related deaths, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday.


What You Need To Know

  • There's a total of 189 grants
  • 159 grants will go toward local agencies whereas 30 grants will go toward state initiatives

  • A total list of grant awards can be found here

There’s a total of 189 grants — 159 of them will go toward 145 different local agencies in 63 counites, and 30 grants will go toward state initiatives. The funds will be use to focus on priority topics, including impaired driving, seat belt usage, speeding, motorcycle safety and more.

“These grants will support the ongoing efforts in Ohio to save lives and reduce injuries on our roads,” said DeWine in a release. “From raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving to increasing enforcement to take impaired drivers off the streets, these programs will contribute to making the roads safer for everyone.”

Here is some of the breakdown of funds and what it will be going toward:

  • Statewide programming: This will receive a total of $13.6 million and will go toward 18 agencies to help conduct education, enforcement and awareness of initiatives
  • Impaired driving enforcement and selective traffic enforcement program: More than $5.5 million will be awarded to sheriff’s offices and police department for overtime hours that are used to reduce traffic-related deaths
  • Summer holiday enforcement program: Over $270,960 will be for local police departments for summer overtime hours to reduce traffic-related fatal crashes
  • County OVI task forces: More than $2.4 million will go to agencies to conduct impaired driving initiatives, public awareness and countywide high visibility enforcement

A total list of grant awards can be found here.

“Ohio is on track to see a decline in fatal crashes this year, but we have much more work to do,” said Emily Davidson, Ohio Traffic Safety Office director. “In recent years, Ohio has seen encouraging improvements in some safety areas, such as an increase in seat belt use and a decrease in distracted driving. These grant funds will allow us to keep making progress.”