COLUMBUS – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently announced the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) has awarded over $23 million for statewide programming to improve traffic safety and reduce traffic-related fatalities, according to a press release.

A total of 164 grants were awarded to 135 local agencies (62 counties) to support the efforts of safety partners statewide and focus on traffic safety priority areas, including impaired driving, seat belt usage, distracted driving, youthful driving, and motorcycle safety.

“These grants align with Ohio’s mission to save lives and reduce injuries on our roads,” said DeWine, in the release. “By supporting local programs that raise awareness, educate drivers, and increase enforcement, we are working together to make Ohio’s roadways among the safest in the country.”

Programs that will be funded with traffic safety grants include:

• Statewide Programming ($13,244,880.07) – 31 grants were awarded to agencies to conduct education, enforcement, and awareness initiatives statewide to address traffic safety related priority areas;

• Impaired Driving Enforcement and Selective Traffic Enforcement Program ($4,633,625.20) – 78 grants were awarded to 48 sheriff’s offices and 30 police departments for overtime hours used to reduce traffic-related fatal crashes that involve impaired driving via alcohol or drugs, seat belt usage, speed, aggressive driving, motorcycles, and failure to yield. The Miami County Sheriff’s Office received $80,961.48 for this program.

• Dedicated Traffic Enforcement Program ($148,902.91) – Two grants were awarded to one sheriff’s office and one police department for a pilot program to help fund a dedicated traffic enforcement officer to reduce traffic-related fatal crashes that involve impaired driving via alcohol or drugs, seat belt usage, speed, aggressive driving, motorcycles and failure to yield. This pilot is intended to help fund the salary and limited other items of the dedicated officer in a step-down manner (100% first year, 50% second year, 25% third year) as the agency absorbs the cost;

• Countywide OVI Task Forces ($2,881,055.45) – 12 grants were awarded to agencies to conduct countywide high visibility enforcement, public awareness, and impaired driving initiatives;

• Safe Community programs ($2,170,213.39) – 41 countywide grants were awarded to communities to address traffic safety issues that involve impaired driving via 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 Miami County Health District received $46,200 for this program.

The traffic safety grant funds were directed to OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The FFY 2024 competitive grant process solicited grant proposals from state agencies, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, hospitals, political subdivisions, and other interested groups within selected Ohio counties and jurisdictions based on the number of fatal crashes.

“Last year more than half of Ohio’s fatal crashes were OVI-related, so impaired driving education, prevention, and enforcement campaigns are going to be more important than ever,” said Emily Davidson, OTSO director, in the release. “We must continue to keep making progress in saving lives on our roads, and prevent more families from experiencing the tragedy of losing a loved one to an impaired-driving crash.”

For a complete list of agencies receiving grants and the amounts, visit http://tinyurl.com/5evvktb6.

According to the release, DeWine is a strong supporter of traffic safety programs. Since taking office in 2019, DeWine has launched several driver safety initiatives, including the improvement of the 150 most dangerous intersections in the state, and creating the Ohio Traffic Safety Council within the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Most recently, the governor announced a new grant program to cover many of the costs associated with establishing or expanding driver training schools and funding for scholarships for teenagers from low-income families to enroll in driver training through the Drive to Succeed program.